Top police officer to identify arsonists

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 25. The Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that a high-level police officer would be asked to identity the anti-social elements behind Tuesday's incidents of arson in the Peenya Industrial Area, that followed rumours about restrictions on payment of Provident Fund dues to workers.

He said the agitation by the industrial workers, many of them from garment factories, which preceded the incidents, was spontaneous, and there was no prior information about it. Therefore, police could not anticipate trouble so as to make security arrangements, Mr. Kharge said, and ruled out any failure on the part of the intelligence machinery.

Mr. Kharge, who was making a statement on the subject raised by the floor leader of the JD(U) and former Home Minister, Mr. P.G.R. Sindhia, and Mr. Suresh Kumar (BJP), said that on receiving information about garment workers coming out of factories for an agitation, the local police had mobilised themselves without delay.

Since many of the protestors were women, the police had not resorted to use of force initially, but had persuaded them to disperse. As a result, 50 per cent of the protestors had returned. But for this restraint on the part of police, there would have been a very serious situation, Mr. Kharge said.

He said he would ask the Commissioner of Police to order an inquiry by a senior officer to identify the anti-social elements who caused trouble. He would inquire whether there was any groupism among senior police officers, he added.

Mr. Kharge said the Government had taken all possible measures to scotch the rumours regarding the Provident Fund benefit for employees below the age of 45. Mr. Kharge said that he got in touch with his Cabinet colleague, Mr. A.H. Hindasgeri (Labour), after the violence erupted. An appeal was issued by Mr. Hindasgeri over the television networks assuring the agitated employees that no such change in the PF rules had been carried out.

Judicial probe sought: The Opposition members demanded a judicial inquiry into the violence, and blamed failure of police intelligence and inaction for the large-scale destruction of motor vehicles and private property and injuries to members of the public.

Raising the issue, Mr. R. Ashok of the BJP (in whose Uttarahalli Assembly constituency the incidents took place) said that the police had remained inactive even two hours after the violence broke out. The incidents should be seen in the light of the spurt in incidents of murders and robberies in the City.

`Helpless spectators': Mr. Ashok claimed that even at noon, only five policemen were present at the scene of violence, and they were helpless spectators. By then, 10,000 workers and others had gathered. In all, 150 vehicles had been damaged or even burnt. Several roadside shops had been ransacked and looted. The Government should compensate those who lost their property. The police failed to protect the Provident Fund office at the industrial estate and also identify those who spread the rumour regarding the changes in PF rules and instigated the violence. Suspecting the hand of anti-social elements in the violence, he demanded a judicial inquiry.

Mr. Sindhia said Bangalore had not witnessed such large-scale arson and violence. For the first time, traffic on the busy Tumkur Road had come to a halt throughout the day. The movement of vehicles to the northern parts of the State had been paralysed for eight hours.

He demanded to know why the local circle inspector of police failed to take precautionary measures. There was total failure of police intelligence although different units in the force including the Special Branch had been entrusted with the job. Mr. Sindhia noted that the Chief Minister and the Home Minister were being briefed every day by the intelligence chief of the department.

The outbreak of violence could have been anticipated as the employees of the PF office had been complaining of harassment by the workers over various issues for the last three months. The Government should protect the offices of the Union Government.

Mr. Sindhia said that the police could have acted with tact while dealing with the agitated mob. A delegation of workers could have been allowed to meet the Chief Minister. The garment factory workers had reasons to be agitated as they were an exploited lot.

`Unseen hand': Mr. Suresh Kumar said that there was an abject failure of police intelligence. A delegation of workers should have been allowed to meet the Chief Minister and the Home Minister. There was an unseen hand behind the incidents. Mr. Suresh Kumar wondered as to how 10,000 people could be mobilised within a short time when even organised political parties found it difficult to do so. Moreover, those who had grievances against the PF authorities were leaderless. Lumpen elements seized the opportunity to indulge in violence and the police failed to rise to the occasion, he added.

Mr. Kumar said 80 per cent of the workers were women, and it was unimaginable that they would have attacked the provident fund office in the area.

MLCs seek investigation: Members of the Legislative Council from all parties demanded a probe to identify the persons who instigated the violence in Peenya. Mr. Kharge said the Government was also keen on identifying those who were behind the incidents.

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Section  : Southern States
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