Parliament-like security for Lokayukta office, Soudha, HC: Home Minister

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said on Thursday that security would be provided to the Lokayukta office, Vidhana Soudha and High Court in Bengaluru on the lines of the Parliament House in New Delhi. This follows the stabbing of Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty in Bengaluru on Wednesday.  

Addressing a press conference here, Reddy said, "Joint Commisisoner of Police (crime) Sathish Kumar is probing the incident of attack on Shetty and will submit a report by Thursday evening."

Reddy said that the incident occurred due to a defunct metal detector. He said there were no reports whether Tejraj Sharma, who stabbed Shetty, was an RSS worker or member of any pro-Hindu organisation.

Reddy said Sharma had a fight with Shetty 15 days ago, but the latter had scolded him and sent him off.

On BJP leaders' allegations that law and order had worsened in the state, Reddy said the situation was good and that BJP was politicising the issue in the wake of the elections.

He said the crime rate had dropped under the Congress government and was much less compared to BJP's rule.

Reddy said a police commissionerate would be established in Kalaburagi soon. The government had sanctioned Rs 50 crore for the purpose and orders had been issued for recruitment of staff, the minister said.