Date:30/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/30/stories/2006063006710400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

MLCs complain of police rudeness

Staff Reporter

Police have to be strict in monitoring visitors, saysPrakash

BANGALORE: Home Minister M.P. Prakash has come out in support of the police guarding the Vidhana Soudha and the Legislators' Home in order to enhance security. Referring to complaints in the Legislative Council of rude behaviour by policemen towards members of the public visiting the Vidhana Soudha, Mr. Prakash said "such incidents are inevitable in preventing intruders and containing illegal activities."

Replying to `Mukhyamantri' Chandru of the BJP, who asked for details of the number of complaints registered and the first information reports filed at the Vidhana Soudha and Legislators' Home police stations, he said 157 complaints were registered and the contents of the FIRs filed would run to over 400 pages.

He said both sides — the police, and the public and politicians — were prone to over-reacting in certain situations. The police had to be strict and vigilant in screening people because both the buildings were sensitive places, he said.

Referring to the recent incident of a government employee working in the Chief Minister's secretariat forging the signature of the Chief Minister, Mr. Prakash said that no Minister's signature was safe as long as people with criminal minds existed.