Southern States
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Karnataka
Hejjala firing: Police indicted
By Our Special Correspondent
BANGALORE, JAN. 22. The Justice D.P.Hiremath Commission of Inquiry which went into the firing at Hejjala in Ramanagaram taluk of Bangalore Rural District on February 3, 1997, in which three persons died and 13 were injured, has indicted the police.
The report, tabled in the Legislative Assembly today, said the police failed to take preventive measures, and called for action against them.
The incident occurred when workers of Sri Valliyappa Textile Factory under the banner of ``Valliyappa Textile and Allied Company Workers' Union'' affiliated to the CITU launched a rasta roko on February 3, 1997, on the highway in front of the factory to impress upon the Government and the factory managing director the need for settling their long-pending demands.
When the agitators, numbering around 700, reportedly turned violent, police opened fire which resulted in the death of Krishnappa, Seeta, and Nagaraja. Thirteen others were injured.
The commission found a serious lapse on the part of the Superintendent of Police and the Circle Inspector in not securing the presence of either the Sub-divisional Magistrate or the taluk Executive Magistrate of Ramanagaram to handle the situation.
The commission observed that these officers were kept in the dark about the agitation.
Referring to the police attitude after the firing, it observed that the police, including the SP and the inspector, had shown callous disregard to Krishnappa who dropped dead, and Seeta and Nagaraja who sustained serious injuries.
At least 10 of the 13 persons who sustained bullet injuries were not removed by the police to the nearby government hospital.
It also held the two police officers responsible for use of excessive force on Hejjala Road.
The commission passed strictures against the management of Sri Valliyappa Textile Factory for not maintaining industrial peace and for its adamant and uncompromising attitude in not recognising the union, and its refusal to negotiate with it.
The factory management appeared to have banked more on police than on negotiations to end the labour unrest, the commission observed.
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