Mangaluru, Apr 12: Dalit organisations and activists in Dakshina Kannada have demanded immediate arrest of two policemen attached to Konaje police station for allegedly beating a man, who was illegally selling cigarettes near Mudipu.
The Commissionerate has already suspended PSI Shreekala KT and Constable Rajesh after the victim, identified as Rukmayya filed a case against them under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocity Act.
Confirming the disciplinary action, K M Shantaraju, DCP (law and order) said that the PSI and Constable have been kept under suspension pending inquiry.
He said, Rukmayya was running a petty shop and was selling cigarette illegally. Instead of booking a case under COTPA against Rukmayya, they summoned him to Konaje Police Station. Later, the duo abused and also assaulted him.
Shruti N, ACP (South), who carried out investigation found duo guilty and her report paved the way for disciplinary action.
However, a group of Dalit activists including Ashok Konchadi, Nirmal Kumar, Raghuveer and Ramesh Kotian on Wednesday held a press meet and demanded the arrest of the duo.
They also claimed that a few non-Dalits in Mudipu had bribed the police to torture Rukmayya, who had started his own small vegetable shop. “On April 6 the two cops barged into his shop and behaved like rowdies. They threw vegetables from the shop and accused Rukmayya of selling drugs before taking him to police station, where he was beaten badly,” they said.
Comments
Add new comment