Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Apr 5: Addressing a press conference at the office of the party in the city on the evening of Tuesday April 4, SDPI Dakshina Kannada district president, Haneef Khan, stated that the protest held in front of the office of the city police commissioner condemning police atrocities on a person named Ahmed Qureshi was peaceful. He stressed that the police had resorted to caning the protesters, and that the protesters had not attacked the police as claimed.
"Our activists have neither attacked any police personnel or officials, nor have we pelted stones. I ask the police to check the footage of CCTV cameras installed in the area where police commissioner's office is located. This will bring out the truth," he said.
He accused city police commissioner of 'falsely' claiming that the protesters had attacked the police, in order to protect police who had tortured an innocent person till one of his kidneys failed. He informed that over 65 protesters had suffered injuries and five of them were admitted as inpatients in hospitals, having suffered serious injuries. He also urged the police to release all the injured Muslim leaders and activists immediately, and accused Congress of having a hand in the caning of the crowd.
SDPI press meet
SDPI Udupi district unit has planned protest opposite clock tower there at 5 pm on April 5 condemning inhuman attack on people protesting against police excesses at Mangaluru.
Dalit Sangharsh Samiti district organizing convener, M Koosappa, termed as demonic the torturing of a youth till one of his kidneys stopped functioning, and using of batons against protesters. He demanded for the dismissal of police commissioner, Chandra Sekhar, holding him responsible for this incident. He requested district in-charge minister to act in this direction.
Some other organizations including Jamaat-E-Islam-E-Hind have condemned police atrocities and criticized the lathi charge on protesters.
Through a release, police department said that the police had not tortured the arrested accused, Ahmed Qureshi, as alleged and termed allegations in this connection as false. They have referred to the statement made by Qureshi in the court and also medical test report of the hospital. They stated that Qureshi had said in court that he was not subjected to torture, and medical test report does not mention about police atrocity, adding that he is in judicial custody not police custody.
Additional director general of police, Alok Mohan, speaking at Kundapur, said that the protesters at Mangaluru had not obtained prior permission and that they resisted attempt made by the polie to send them away. Therefore, police were forced to use batons, he clarified.
In the meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have condemned PFI activists for attacking police personnel and pelting stones at police vehicles and office. Sharan Pumpwell has demanded to place a ban PFI and to hand over investigation relating to the organization to National Investigation Agency because of incidents happening here which resemble the situation in Kashmir.
Former city mayor and president of Union of Dakshina Kannada Muslim Organizations, K Ashraf, has come down heavily on police for gagging the voice of Muslims seeking justice. He criticized city police commissioner, Chandra Sekhar, for using brute force against the accused, keeping people in illegal confinement and then making a garland of lies in front of the public through press conferences.
"As part of such a conspiracy, the police launched murderous attack on protesters belonging to Muslim organizations who were seeking justice, and then the police themselves got admitted into hospital. We will soon organize a huge protest against inhuman ways of the police and an official release will be issued shortly. I request Muslims to join hands with us in our efforts to lend support to the voice of the community," he said in a statement.
The city police, meanwhile, claimed that contrary to allegations, the youth Ahmed Qureshi was not tortured or harassed in police custody, and that he has given a statement in court saying that he was under no pressure from the police.