Govt. to order judicial probe into firing

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, OCT. 9. The State Cabinet today decided to order a judicial inquiry into the police firing near Channapatna in which one person was killed and another was seriously injured. It also decided to suspend the Sub-Inspector, Mr. Rajendra Kumar, responsible for opening fire without obtaining permission from his superiors.

The Cabinet discussed the incident which occurred at Vitlenahalli in Channapatna taluk when policemen tried to prevent farmers from tapping ``neera''.

The Minister of State for Information, Mr. M. Shivanna, briefing presspersons, said the incident figured prominently in the Cabinet meeting, following which the decision to order a judicial inquiry was taken.

Mr. Shivanna said three police constables and a Sub-Inspector rushed to Vitlenahalli on receiving news that neera was being tapped. A group of about 300 to 400 people who had gathered there pelted the police with stones. The crowd then surrounded the three constables and beat them up severely.

As the situation was tense, the Sub-Inspector and the constables went back to the police station and returned to the spot with reinforcements. When the situation turned violent, the police opened fire, killing Puttananjegowda and severely injuring Thammayya.

He said the Superintendent of Police, Bangalore Rural District, along with the IGP and the Additional IGP had rushed to the scene for an on-the-spot inquiry. The Government would take appropriate action after receiving the report.

Reservation rules: Mr. Shivanna said that following the direction given by the Karnataka High Court, the Cabinet decided to issue a draft notification effecting changes in the rules for reservations in the election of presidents and vice-presidents of city municipal councils, town municipal councils and town panchayats.

Mr. Shivanna said there was some controversy over reservations in the election of presidents and vice-presidents of rural local bodies, elections to which were held in May and June this year. Following a case filed in the High Court, the latter had directed the State Government to frame new rules. Now the Cabinet had decided to bring in suitable changes as per the direction of the court.

He said the draft notification would be issued within two or three days and, after receiving objections and suggestions, the new rules would be framed.

Transparency in transfers: Mr. Shivanna said the Cabinet briefly discussed the need to bring in transparency in general transfers of government employees.

The recommendations of the Harnahalli Ramaswamy Committee on administrative reforms would be taken into consideration while working out ways and means to ensure transparency in general administration. Since today's meeting did not finalise the methods, the matter would come up in the next meeting of the Cabinet, he said.

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Section  : Southern States
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