The State government is viewing seriously the clash between two groups in Kalladka on June 13, when prohibitory orders were in force. Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Alok Mohan has said that all those who indulged in violence will be booked.
Mr. Mohan told presspersons after a visit to the area on Friday that lapses, if any, on the part of the police in enforcing the prohibitory orders will be looked into.
Inspector General of Police (Western Range) P. Harishekaran has been asked to submit a report.
“We have taken a serious view of the clash on June 13 that occurred 15 days after the earlier incident.” Mr. Mohan said there was a perception that the police failed to take adequate steps following the clash in Kalladka on May 26 that led to imposition of prohibitory orders till June 21.
“The Superintendent of Police (Bhushan Gulabrao Borase) and the Inspector General of Police are camping in Kalladka to ensure that all those involved in the clash are arrested. We need to complete the whole work (of arresting all persons involved),” he said. Separate teams have been formed to trace and arrest the offenders, he added.
Asked on the proposed protest rally by Hindu Jagarana Vedike activists in B.C. Road on June 22, Mr. Mohan said that action will be taken after assessing the situation on June 21.
On the suspension of three policemen on Thursday after Hindu Jagarana Vedike leader Rathnakar Shetty, an accused in the clash on June 13, left the private hospital to return a few hours later, Mr. Mohan said, “Superintendent of Police is the best judge of who is right and who is wrong and he knows what’s the duty assigned (to those personnel). It’s necessary for police to follow orders of the superiors,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner K.G. Jagadeesha and Superintendent of Police Bhushan Gulabrao Borase chaired a peace committee meeting at the Government Higher Primary School, Kalladka, on Friday. As many as 70 representatives from two communities including the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat attended the meeting that went on for nearly two hours.
Among the suggestions made during the meeting was to hold sports and other events at regular intervals that helps in interaction of youths from the two communities. Shop owners were asked to install closed circuit camera outside their outlets facing the road.