Puttur Chalo: Hindu Organisations Raise Concerns Over Recent Clash
Shetty also questioned the opening of rowdy sheets against persons facing 2-3 criminal cases and alleged that even some people participating in protests were being targeted.
Mangaluru: Right-wing activist Srikanth Shetty Karkala on Monday launched a sharp attack on the police and the Congress government, alleging that Hindu organisations and their workers were being targeted.
Speaking at the Puttur Chalo programme, organised by Hindu organisations over their unhappiness with the manner in which the police handled the recent clash in Puttur, Shetty alleged that the police were being used to act against Hindu organisations.
“Whenever the Congress is afraid, it puts the police in front,” he said.
He referred to cases registered against Hindu leaders, including Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat and Jagadish Karanth, over statements made before the media.
Referring to the recent clash in Puttur, Shetty questioned the police action and alleged that while a woman who was admitted to hospital was facing a case and her son was in jail, those accused of dragging a person out of a police jeep and assaulting him were allegedly moving freely.
“Should people believe that there is rule of law?” he asked.
Shetty also questioned the opening of rowdy sheets against persons facing 2-3 criminal cases and alleged that even some people participating in protests were being targeted.
He claimed that people facing one or two cases were subjected to rowdy-sheet proceedings and referred to cases involving Priyank Kharge, demanding uniform application of the law.
Shetty said police officers would come and go, but Hindu workers who had spent decades working for society would continue their struggle against what he described as injustice.
“Our demand is clear. If there are demands for withdrawal of cases by the other side, the cases against Anjana and Sudarshan Pai should be withdrawn,” he said.
He further demanded action against those whom he alleged had gathered as a mob and carried out an attack in the presence of police personnel. He also sought action against officers who allegedly had delayed registering cases in connection with the incident.
Shetty appealed to police personnel to act in accordance with the law.
“If anyone wants to do chamchagiri for the Congress, they should remove their uniform. Thousands of people wearing the uniform have sacrificed their lives for this country,” he said, referring to Mumbai police officer Tukaram Omble, who was killed while arresting Kasab during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
He warned that the Puttur Chalo agitation would not be the last such protest and said similar programmes could be organised in the coming months if the issues raised by the organisations remained unaddressed.
