Mangaluru: Raged colleagues and general public staged a stir expressing their contempt over the departmental action initiated against the Circle Inspector of Mangaluru Rural station, on Tuesday night.
Circle Inspector Pramod has reportedly been suspended and sent on 10 days leave after he arrested Abubakker Siddique in Ulaibettu clash case of last year.
It is learnt that the accused Abubakker Siddique had attempted to sexually assault a woman during the Ulaibettu clashes and had gone absconding since then. He is also an accused in an attempt-to-murder case.
It is said that owing to political pressure an efficient cop like Pramodh had to face consequences of delivering duty honestly.
When the news of the suspension came out, first to take to streets were Pramodh’s own colleagues attached to the same police station who demanded withdrawal of the suspension order for them to resume duty.
The protest only intensified with personnel of other police stations like Kadri, Panambur and others joining them. Soon locals and some organisations too plunged in.
While some locals called Pramodh a ‘lion’, some threatened to remain outside the police station till Pramodh was reinstated.
Pramodh’s honesty and dedication to work had payed off as organisations like the Hindu Jagaran Vedike and the DYFI stood together in support of Pramodh.
Police Commissioner S Murugan who visited the protesters said that neither has he issued an order to suspend or send Pramodh on leave nor is there any order from the government.
The protesters, who refused to listen to the Commissioner demanded to call Pramodh to the spot. When the Commissioner said that he was not aware of Pramodh’s whereabouts, one protester even came forward to file missing complaint.
The protesters then blocked Padil-Nantoor stretch in front of the police station, stopping vehicles and causing disruption in traffic.
Finally, Pramod was called to the spot and he told the protesters that he would be joining back duty on Wednesday, December 9 and that everything was fine. The protesters, convinced by his words, finally withdrew the agitation and celebrated.
