Slain policeman's family seeks justice

Bengaluru, Feb 19: Family members of sub-inspector Mallikarjun Bande who died of bullet wounds during an encounter with a notorious criminal in January 2014 at Kalburgi, today staged a protest here demanding that the state government fulfill its promises.

Asking the government to take care of the medical expenses of his daughter in-law Mallamma Bande, who is suffering from brain tumour, Bande's father Karibasappa said, "Now my daughter-in-law is also battling for life. What will happen to the children? Where do we go if government can't keep up their promise?" he asked.

"Government had made us certain promises that include monthly salary of my son till the completion of his service period, that will be paid to us along with land and others, but nothing has happened so far," Karibasappa said.

The family complained that Bande's salary was still not paid as the file related to it "is pending with the Chief Minister for approval for more than one and half years.""Regarding the land, they are seeking about Rs one lakh for registration," Karibasappa rued.

Holding government responsible for his son's death and ill-health of his daughter in-law, he said he will continue his protest until government takes action.

"One life has gone. At least one has to be saved now," he pleaded. Known for daredevilry in dealing with criminals, Bande was injured in the shootout with alleged criminal Munna Darbar, who was shot dead, on January 8, 2014 in Kalburgi. He later succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Hyderabad.

"We are only asking government what they had promised. They (government) had given Rs 50 lakh which we have deposited in the bank, in the names of the children, but now we had to use Rs 20 lakh for my sister's treatment as we had no other source of money we had to use money from the FD," Mallamma's brother Virupaksha said.

We are now concerned about the children's future who have lost their father, he said. The family members urged the government to respond and start paying the salary they had promised.