Karnataka: Ugrappa's whiplash fells' officer

MANGALURU: Mr V.S. Ugrappa, MLC, who heads a panel on safety of women, has a track record of launching verbal assaults but lost control, rendering deputy director of women and child welfare department, Sundar Poojary, unconscious at a meeting here on Saturday.

Mr Ugrappa, who chaired a review meeting, asked officials about their role in ensuring safety of women, but was not happy when Mr Poojary told him about payment of compensation to rape victims. He found that one out of 14 victims received compensation, but instead of giving the officer an opportunity to explain about the procedures to be followed prior to payment, he snapped: “How can you give such reasons? Such officials need to be thrown into the river Netravathi,” much to the discomfiture of the soft-spoken officer.

A visibly upset Mr Poojary fainted when Mr Ugrappa did not stop his diatribe, asking deputy commissioner A.B. Ibrahim if the officer could be suspended. He was rushed to a local hospital by police officers and treated for low blood pressure.

An unrepentant Mr Ugrappa merely remarked “sometimes we need to be strict to ensure that officials work properly.”