MANGALORE: Iqbal Ansari, Minister for Minority Welfare and Labour, who toured some of the riot-affected places in and around the city on Saturday, has said that he would present a report on his findings to the Chief Minister and Home Minister by Monday.

Mr. Ansari said that he would recommend to the Government to take strict action against certain police officials, who were involved in harassing innocent people.

Mr. Ansari, who spoke to presspersons here after discussing the recent turn of incidents with the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, said it was apparent that the gap between the two communities had widened. Elected representatives and officials should invite leaders of two communities and try and come up with solutions to bridge the gap. The administration should hold peace committee meetings regularly, he said.

Mr. Ansari said it appeared that the incidents were engineered by vested interests, who wanted to destabilise the Karnataka Development Front Government.

Mr. Ansari said he would make a mention of this in his report as well. It was the duty of the police to protect the lives and property of the innocent and not harass them, he said.

The Government could not condone any acts of high handedness on the part of the officials, especially policemen. Such actions bring bad name to the Government, he said. About the losses suffered in arson and looting, Mr. Ansari said it was over Rs. 1 crore as per estimates mentioned in petitions received by him during the tour of affected areas. He said he would collate information from the district administration in this regard as well, Mr. Ansari said he would urge the Chief Minister to pay more compensation than their actual estimated losses.

Yogish Bhat, MLA, was present.

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