Karnataka - Madikeri   

Advocates urge police to book case against granite quarry owner

Staff Correspondent

Heated arguments between Superintendent of Police and advocates

MADIKERI: There was tension in Virajpet town on Tuesday as advocates, supported by few prominent citizens and organisations, gathered at the town police station and urged the police to book cases against a granite quarry owner in Nangala village at Bittangala, where a man was reportedly shot dead by a group of persons on Monday.

The advocates urged the police to book criminal cases against Ummar Kutty, the quarry owner, who they accused of pulling down the fencing leading to the quarry through a private property. Villagers had objected to the fence being put up by Ummar Kutty's men sometime ago. The advocates also wanted the name of K. Ravindra, a fellow advocate, to be removed from the police FIR. Mr. Ravindra, who belongs to Nangala village, was allegedly present when one of the members in the group shot dead Jomon, manager of the quarry, on Monday. The victim hailed from Kerala.

As the talks between Deputy Superintendent of Police, Virajpet, Venkataswamy, and the advocates could not resolve the issue, Superintendent of Police Ramachandra Rao rushed to the spot to tackle the matter. There were heated arguments between Dr. Rao and the advocates as the latter demanded that cases be booked against Ummar Kutty. Earlier, Ummar Kutty had lodged a complaint against 13 persons, who were part of the group, which reportedly shot Jomon. The advocates insisted that criminal case be booked against another fellow lawyer who they accused of instigating the persons in the Ummar Kutty camp. The issue of the fence had been settled by the police with a warning that none of the parties involved should resort to extreme action such as pulling down the fence.

Dr. Rao told The Hindu that about five persons had been secured by the police for investigation, including the main accused P. Ranjan who had allegedly shot dead Jomon. Cases had been booked against 13 persons who were part of the group of people that attacked Jomon on Monday.

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