Image Courtesy: ANI
Mangaluru: Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Dr P S Harsha, on Thursday, December 19, spoke about the security measures implemented in the city in response to the protest call against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019.
Briefing the media about the security measures, he said, “Section 144 has been clamped on the city from Wednesday, December 18 at 9 PM till Friday, December 20 midnight. This was clearly informed to the public through announcements and display boards. We had warned of stringent action against those who act against the law, convened a meeting of all the religious heads and requested them to maintain peace and harmony and also appealed with them to cooperate with the Mangaluru City Police.”
He added, “We had deployed a large contingent of police last night. The Dakshina Kannada Muslim Central Committee had assured us that no protest would be held and that they would inform the police department if at all they wanted to stage a protest. But today, out of nowhere, at around 2 PM, at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, miscreants from Nellikai Road joined the protest. The police informed them about the Section 144 being imposed and requested them not to hold a protest. But they decided to form large groups and began to hurl stones, glass bottles and sticks. They began harming the public and the social fabric.”
He explained that the police began firing rounds of tear gas shells at the mob when the situation started getting out of control. “Around 7000 protestors began attacking the police personnel with lethal weapons. They attacked the North Police Station, broke the glasses and damaged property,” he said.
Speaking about the incidents that occurred at the North Police Station, he said that the protesters did not disperse even after the Muslim leaders requested them to stop the violent protest. “They set the station on fire. As a last resort, we fired rounds in the air. But even that did not deter them and they continued the attack. Then the police began pelting the same stones that the mob had hurled at them. In these clashes, two civilians were severely injured and were subsequently admitted to the hospital. As per the recent reports, their condition is critical and are being treated in the ICU.”
Speaking of the police casualties, Dr Harsha said, “DCP (Law and Order) Arunangshu Giri has suffered a broken hand and DCP (Crime and Traffic) Lakshmi Ganesh K has suffered a fractured leg due to stone-pelting. Around eight out of the 20 injured police personnel are serious.”
“We have extended the Section 144 throughout the city. I request the people to cooperate with the police and stay indoors. Mangaluru Central will remain under prohibitory order. Whatever is legally admissible under Section 144 of the CrPC will be implemented to its fullest,” he stated.
Clarifying about the shootings, the compol said, “We have taken action as permissible under Section 144 and have tried to bring the situation under control.”
