Bengaluru, Nov 6: Hundreds of BJP workers, mainly women, took out at a rally in the City on Wednesday against the increase in cases of rape and child sex abuse and over government's failure to protect women and children in the State.
The protesters took out a procession from the BJP head office in Malleswaram to Chief Minister's official residence on Kumara Krupa Road. However, the police stopped the protesters at Nehru Circle near Seshadripuram and took them into preventive custody. But the situation went out of control for a while as the police could not control the protesters. A large number of women workers participated in the protest, but only a handful of women police were deployed at the spot.
Women cops and Home Guards had a tough time controlling the crowd. The situation took a serious turn after Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha member Shobha Karandlaje sustained bruises on her hands while being pushed into a bus by women police. A heated argument broke out between the protesters and the police. Protesters squatted on the road for an hour against the police action. This led to traffic jam in the area.
“We never intended to protest against the police, but they indulged in an inhuman act. Hence, an inquiry should be ordered and the guilty should be punished. The Congress is using the police force to suppress women's voice, but the BJP would take the issue of women's safety to logical end,” Karandlaje said.
City Police Commissioner M N Reddi rushed to the spot and said that he would order a probe and take action against the errant officials. Following the assurance, the leaders withdrew the protest.
Earlier, addressing the protesters, former chief minister B?S?Yeddyurappa, while referring to the alleged abduction and poisoning of a 14-year-old girl in Thirthahalli recently, said that the local police had created a death note in the victim's name. “The State government is protecting the criminals. The BJP will continue its agitation against the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government for creating lawlessness in the State,” he said.
Former deputy chief minister R?Ashoka alleged that the Home department was threatening to suspend those officers who registered more cases. Hence, the lower rung officers have become mute spectators to the increasing crimes.
The government is directly responsible for increasing crimes against women, he charged. The BJP leaders alleged that Siddaramaiah was in a deep slumber and the government had failed to ensure protection to women. Home Minister K J George should step down owning moral responsibility, they demanded.
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