An on-duty assistant sub-inspector (ASI) lost her mangalsutra during a tense Congress protest outside the BJP office in Shivamogga on Thursday, raising concerns over the safety of police personnel deployed for crowd control.
Protest turns chaotic outside BJP office
The incident occurred when Congress workers staged a protest against the Enforcement Directorate’s probe into the National Herald case and what they described as harassment of senior party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Protesters also opposed the alleged renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) scheme.
As demonstrators attempted to storm the BJP office, police personnel stepped in to disperse the crowd, leading to a chaotic situation at the spot.
On-duty ASI loses gold chain
During the melee, Amritabai, an ASI attached to Kote police station and deployed on duty, lost her mangalsutra weighing around 60 grams. The gold chain was reportedly purchased recently, and the officer was visibly distressed following the incident.
Police sources said the loss was noticed only after the situation was brought under control, amid confusion and heavy crowd movement.
CCTV footage under review
Shivamogga Superintendent of Police G K Mithun Kumar said police are examining CCTV footage from the area to ascertain whether the chain was stolen or accidentally lost during the scuffle.
“We are reviewing the footage carefully to determine the exact circumstances under which the mangalsutra went missing,” the SP told the media, adding that further action would be taken based on the findings.
Safety concerns flagged
The incident has triggered fresh concerns about the safety of police personnel, particularly women officers, during politically charged protests. Senior officers said ensuring better crowd management and protection for on-duty staff would be reviewed following the episode.
The protest concluded later in the day, with police maintaining a strong presence in the area to prevent further disturbances.