Hunsur: A symbolic protest was carried out in the town by hundreds of people under the banner of a progressive coalition demanding the suspension of the town police sub-inspector.
Addressing the protestors, Satyappa, Chairman of the Satya Foundation, said the Hunsur region from where former chief minister D Devaraja Urs, father figure of social justice hailed, is now gripped in fear under the rule of Shanmugam, town station PSI.
Dalits, the backward classes, the minorities live in constant fear and the PSI Shanmugam has turned a controversial figure by taking certain decisions to divide the society, where peace prevailed for ages, he alleged.
Earlier minor differences were sorted out in the police station itself through negotiations and police used to adopt citizen friendly approach, protestors said.
PSI Shanmugam is busy registering suo moto cases bowing to political pressure and is threatening people questioning his ulterior motive and thereby giving room to an atmosphere of fear among the public, they alleged. “No action has been taken till date against the PSI, despite people filing complaints against him to departmental higher-ups”, they rued.
Yogi, a member of the City Municipal Council, said after PSI Shanmugam took charge the entire region had turned into a sensitive zone. In recent times, PSI’s behaviour has led to a conflict between the police and civilians, alleged Yogi, who demanded serious action against the said policeman by higher-ups through fair investigation.
Five hundred people from both urban and rural areas of the town participated in the symbolic protest. District Farmers’ Union President Hosur Krishnakumar, Green Brigade and members of women’s organisations joined several other protesters.
