Attack forces cops to replace defunct metal detector at Lokayukta office

A day after Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanath Shetty was stabbed in his chamber, the VVIP Security Wing of the Bengaluru police on Thursday installed a brand new Door Frame Metal Detector (DFMD) at the Lokayukta office at MS Building on Thursday.

The metal detector was installed at the entrance of the office. Besides, three police personnel, including a woman constable, were seen frisking each visitor and also checking the bags with a hand-held metal detector at the entrance.

Lokayukta registrar H M Nanjundaswamy told DH that City Police Commissioner has not responded to repeated letters on various issues concerning security in the institution, in the last one year.

On Thursday morning, VVIP Security Wing took a few measures as temporary arrangements until a systematic security and safety system is put in place at the Lokayukta office.

A head constable was seen questioning visitors as to where they were from and for what purpose they have come to the Lokayukta office. Later, the visitors were allowed to make entries in the register. The old defunct wooden DFMD which was there for over three years suddenly started working when the technicians connected a few wires. Since they had brought a new DFMD, they installed the new one and took away the old one.

However, Lokayukta officials said that they were not informed about the installation of metal detector and deployment of policemen. "We are not even told about deployment of policemen and installation of metal detectors. We had to communicate to the VVIP Security Wing to inform us in writing about these arrangements,'' an official said.

Nanjundaswamy said that they had to write to City police requesting for enhancement of security since some time. ``At least five letters were sent to the city police commissioner. Of those, three letters specifically pertain to non-functioning metal detectors. In addition to this, we had requested additional security staff to man each floor in the building. We have not recieved a response to our letters till date,'' he said, adding that nine policemen are deputed at three points round-the-clock.

He jumped over table, stabbed Shetty

The CCTV footage inside Lokayukta's chamber shows that Tejraj Sharma jumped over the table and grabbed Justice Shetty. Even as Justice Shetty was in a shock, Sharma stabbed him on hand and in the stomach repeatedly.

The CCTV footage from outside the chamber shows a calm and composed Sharma approaching Lokayukta's orderly Palani and giving him a chit. Lokayukta Registrar was inside the chamber at that time and Palani asked Sharma to wait at the visitors' lounge. Justice Shetty, who usually takes lunch break at 1.30 pm asked Palani to send Sharma in. The footage from the camera, which is placed just above the Lokayukta's chair, showed that Tejraj stepped on the table. He choked Justice Shetty with his right hand and stabbed him with the knife in his left hand. The Vidhana Saudha police have seized the CCTV recordings and also taken fingerprints of the staff at the Lokayukta office who had cleaned the chamber on Wednesday.