MANGALURU: Upset with district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai's directions to Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police, Bhushan G. Borase, register a criminal case and arrest RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, leaders of the district unit of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Morcha of the Bharatiya Janata Party filed a complaint against the minister at Bantwal town police station on Monday.
In his complaint, district SC-ST Morcha president Dinesh Amtoor alleged that Mr Ramanath Rai used intimidating language against Mr Bhat as well as abetted communal tension.
Besides, Mr Ramanath Rai tried to misuse his power by asking the Superintendent of Police to register a case against Mr. Bhat.
Meanwhile, the situation in Kalladka was peaceful but communal tension was palpable in the region.
What commenced as a case of personal rivalry between two persons sparked ommunal tension in the town.
Both the incidents- the first on May 26 was due to personal rivalry and the second on June 13 when two rowdy-sheeters clashed-acquired communal colour with stone-throwing, according to local police officers.
“At Kalladka, many personal clashes between individuals acquire communal colour when the individuals are from different communities. Kalladka has always been communally sensitive since the murder of Kalladka Ismail witnessed about three decades ago,” added police sources.
Sunday’s episode, however, assumed a political twist with the involvement of Mr Ramanath Rai.
Congress leaders, who wanted action against Mr Bhat, however, restrained themselves fearing a backlash from Hindu outfits.
Police booked cases against all involved in the incident.
10 cases filed
- The Dakshina Kannada police have booked ten cases against people belong to both communities in connection with the clash in Kalladka.
- Though cases have been booked against people of both communities, messages are making rounds in the social media that stiff sections of IPC have been invoked against minorities.
