Date:04/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/04/stories/2007010409830400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Dharam Singh, Patil give Srinivasan an earful

Staff Reporter

The leaders seek action against the Bidar Superintendent of Police for `foisting cases' against Basavaraj Patil Humnabad

Bangalore: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H.K. Patil on Wednesday summoned Director-General and Inspector-General of Police K. Srinivasan to their offices and sought action against Bidar Superintendent of Police Roopa and a few of her officers for "foisting cases" against the former Minister Basavaraj Patil Humnabad, MLC, and Congress workers in the district.

The leaders told Mr. Srinivasan and Home Secretary S. Ramakrishna that Mr. Humnabad had been in Manyakheli village where Dalits were protesting the desecration of a statue of B.R. Ambedkar and prevailed upon them to resort to peaceful means of protest instead of an agitation that affected road traffic.

Even senior Janata Dal (S) leader Merajuddin Patel, MLA, had come there to make an appeal to the agitating Dalits.

But, the Bidar police filed cases against Mr. Humnabad alleging violation of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The Government was carrying out a witch-hunt against Congress leaders and workers, they alleged, and said that the law and order machinery had collapsed in the State as there was an increasing number of attacks on innocent Dalits and minorities.

The two leaders demanded suspension of the Superintendent of Police and her subordinate officers. They alleged that three cases involving the destruction or defiling of Ambedkar statues in the district had taken place recently and the police had booked around 1,000 cases against Dalits for protesting against it. Some had even been issued non-bailable warrants.

However, Mr. Srinivasan, who listened to the leaders, told them that he would apprise Home Minister M.P. Prakash of their demand and initiate suitable action against the officer after taking his advice.

On the delay in taking action against the party MLA R. Roshan Baig for not abiding by the party direction to resign from the Legislature Committee on Encroachment of Government Lands around Bangalore, Mr. Singh said that the party high command had been informed about it.