Puttur: A protest march under the banner of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Vedike was held in Puttur on Monday to condemn the alleged attack on Hindu shop owners at a Xerox shop near Darbe and demand the immediate arrest of those accused in the incident.
The Puttur Chalo programme began near Darbe, from where protesters marched towards the main road. A protest meeting was subsequently held in front of the Sri Lakshmi Venkataramana Temple.
The organisers alleged that the police had failed to take prompt action against those involved in the attack and criticised what they described as the police’s attitude towards the case.
Protesters demand police action
Addressing the gathering, Hindu Jagran Vedike Provincial Executive Committee member Srikanth Shetty spoke about the alleged attack and the demands raised by the organisations.
The protesters called for the accused to be arrested and for appropriate legal action to be initiated in connection with the incident.
The programme was organised jointly by the VHP, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Vedike as a show of protest against the alleged attack and to press the authorities to act on the matter.
The organisers maintained that action should be taken according to law and that the police should ensure that those responsible for the incident are brought before the legal authorities.
Leaders attend protest meeting
Dr Krishna Prasanna, Puttur district president of the VHP, Puneeth Attavara, Bajrang Dal division coordinator, and Mohandas Kaniyur, Puttur district coordinator of the Hindu Jagran Vedike, were present on the stage during the protest meeting.
Several senior office-bearers of the organisations also participated in the programme.
Those present included VHP provincial joint secretary Sharan Pumpwell, Hindu Jagran Vedike regional organising secretary Prashanth, Hindu Jagran Vedike leader Ullas KT, Bajrang Dal provincial co-coordinator Bhujang Kulal and VHP provincial publicity and broadcasting chief Pradeep Saripalla.
VHP Mangaluru division secretary Shivananda Mendon, VHP Puttur district secretary Naveen Neriya, VHP Puttur district joint secretary Sridhar Thenkila, and Hindu Jagran Vedike functionary Narasimha Mani also attended.
Elected representatives participate
The protest also saw the participation of several elected representatives and political leaders.
Legislative Council member Kishore Kumar Botyadi, Sullia MLA Bhagirathi Murulya, Mangaluru North MLA Bharat Shetty, Bantwal MLA Rajesh Naik Ulipadyaguthu, Beltangady MLA Harish Poonja and BJP district president Satish Kumpala were among those present.
Other members and supporters of the participating organisations also joined the protest march and meeting.
The participation of representatives from different parts of Dakshina Kannada highlighted the organisers’ effort to draw wider attention to their demand for police action.
Call for peaceful legal action
The organisers’ primary demand was the arrest of the accused allegedly involved in the attack on the shop owners near Darbe.
The protesters also expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of police action and urged the authorities to conduct a proper investigation and proceed against those responsible in accordance with the law.
The programme remained focused on raising the issue publicly and seeking intervention from the authorities.
As the allegations concern an ongoing police matter, the claims made by the protest organisers would be subject to investigation and due legal process.
The protest concluded with the organisations reiterating their demand that the accused be arrested and that appropriate action be taken based on the findings of the investigation.