Puttur SI, two cops suspended for Rathnakar Shetty's 'missing act'

Hindu Jagarana Vedike district unit president Rathnakar Shetty, who was admitted to a private hospital in Puttur after he suffered injuries following a clash at Kalladka on Tuesday, was found ‘missing’ from the hospital late on Wednesday night. As the news began to spread, he got himself admitted to the  hospital again on Thursday afternoon. 

Shetty has been accused of stabbing a person during a group clash at Kalladka.

Meanwhile, the SP has suspended Puttur town police station SI Omana, head constables Radhakrishna and Ramesh Lamani on the ground of negligence while discharging the duty.

Security was beefed up at the special ward of the hospital, in which Shetty was admitted. Also, a KSRP bus was deployed on the hospital premises. Omana was in-charge of the security. Head constable Radhakrishna and constable Ramesh Lamani were deployed outside the special ward. On Wednesday night, Rathnakar Shetty went ‘missing’. Eventually, the SP suspended the officer and the constables.

Later, Shetty got himself admitted again at the same hospital on Thursday afternoon. He is currently being treated at the ICU.

Hospital doctor Prasad Bhandary later clarified that he had suggested Shetty to contact cardiologist at KMC Hospital as he had developed severe chest pain on Wednesday night. But instead of going to KMC Hospital, he went to the district Wenlock Hospital.

Prior permission was not taken as Shetty was not arrested by police, Dr Bhandary said.

Shetty said that he travelled in his car to Mangaluru along with the driver.

By that time, the chest pain had come down and upon the suggestion of the doctors at the district hospital, he returned to the hospital, he claimed.

After the SP issued suspension order, SI Omana fell sick and was admitted to government hospital, Puttur, following hypertension.