Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 15: City police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy has warned that while persons found to be residing illegally will be subjected to legal inquiry and deported as per law, strict legal action will also be taken against anyone who carries out attacks on others based merely on suspicion.
Referring to a provocative message circulated in a WhatsApp group named ‘Hindu Geleyara Balaga’, the police commissioner said the message claimed that some people were running businesses by putting up a board reading ‘Bengali Canteen’ behind the Rao and Rao Circle auto-rickshaw stand, and alleged that the police department was turning a blind eye to it. The message urged members of Hindu organisations to share the issue widely. The commissioner said that FIRs have already been registered against two persons for posting such messages, and they will be arrested soon. He added that the police have taken note of the message being posted in certain groups.
Clarifying the matter, the police commissioner said that the background of the family in question has been verified and that property had been purchased in their name in 2014. There is no evidence to prove that they are not Indian citizens, he stated.
He further said that some people are posting messages on WhatsApp that could lead to attacks on innocent individuals. Police have already taken action in cases involving attacks on Indian migrant workers in Mangaluru, he added.
The police commissioner said that if anyone has information about persons suspected to be from Bangladesh, such information can be shared with police stations, Assistant commissioners of police, or the police commissioner’s office. After proper verification, legal action will be taken and deportation will be ensured as per law, he assured.
He warned that if anyone shares details of any Indian citizen by branding them as Bangladeshi based on suspicion, or circulates messages that instigate attacks on certain individuals or groups, legal action will be initiated against them as per law.
Stating that attacking anyone, including those allegedly residing illegally, is a criminal offence, the police commissioner said cases will be registered and investigations carried out against such offenders. The law is clear, and even those who do not respect the law will be dealt with strictly in accordance with legal provisions, he cautioned.