Forum flays diktat on New Year celebrations by police

Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development has sought the intervention of Home Minister in addressing the deteriorating law and order situation in Dakshina Kannada, especially in Mangaluru due to increase in anti-social activities by right wing elements.

In a petition submitted to the Home Minister through City Police Commissioner T R Suresh, the members said that the guidelines issued by the city police commissioner for New Year celebrations reveals that the police department has completely abdicated its responsibility to protect the citizens of Mangaluru from anti-social elements. The guidelines/advisory leaves us in no doubt that the police department has decided to act as an enforcer of the unreasonable demands and diktats of the Bajrang Dal and VHP. The advisory puts so many conditions on the citizens and event organisers that instead of instilling confidence among the citizenry, it seems to make it impossible to celebrate New Year in any meaningful way.

Coming down heavily on the deadline of midnight to wind up the New Year celebrations, the forum members said that it is like making a mockery of the citizens as this very moment (midnight) marks the onset of the New Year. In Bengaluru, the police had issued a deadline of 2 am to end the celebrations.

Owing to the fear created by right wing activists, many people are scared to attend New Year parties, a member said.