Scientist's murder: IGP to probe police laxity

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 27. The Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, assured the Assembly on Friday of an inquiry by an officer of the rank of Inspector-General of Police into the allegation that the Krishnarajapuram Police in Bangalore city refused to take up investigation of the murder of a scientist, G.N.Chandrashekar, on Thursday on the ground that it had occurred outside its jurisdiction.

Intervening when the issue was raised by the leader of the Janata Dal(U) group, Mr. P.G.R.Sindhia, Mr. Kharge said that the officer would inquire into the allegation that police were insisting on the grieving family to give them an empty audio cassette.

The member said that the murder had shaken the people as it had occurred in broad daylight. Similar murders had taken place in recent days in Bellary, Mandya and also in Bangalore. The police were clueless about some of them as in the case of the murder of a jeweller on Wheeler Road, Cox Town in Bangalore. The State capital was no longer the safe city it was.

Mr. Sindhia was of the view that the culprits responsible for the murder of the scientist could have been nabbed if the police had issued a red alert immediately after coming to know of the crime instead of haggling over jurisdiction. He noted that when he was the Home Minister, a move had been made to reorganise the Bangalore District Police and post a superintendent as its chief.

Mr. Suresh Kumar (BJP) said that they were not keen on raising issues of murder again and again in the House. Criticising the police of delayed action, he noted that the dog squad reached the scene of crime only at 6.30 p.m.

The Home Minister replied that he would look into the scheme of reorganisation prepared when Mr. Sindhia was handling the portfolio. He added that the policemen, who said that the crime had occurred outside their jurisdiction, were unfit to be in the force.

Earlier the Speaker, Mr. M.V.Venkatappa, declined to allow the members to raise the matter as the House was to discuss only the demands for grants. But the members went ahead with their observations.

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Section  : Southern States
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