MANGALORE: The Dakshina Kannada district administration has extended curfew in Mulky town panchayat limits by 24 hours.

The curfew initially imposed for three days from Friday, following outbreak of violence during the funeral procession of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sukhananda Shetty, will now be in force up to 7 a.m. on Tuesday, M. Maheshwar Rao, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, has said.

Mr. Rao has ordered a magisterial inquiry into circumstances leading to firing by police, which claimed two lives. A.G. Bhat, Additional District Magistrate and Headquarters Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner, has been appointed as the inquiry officer. Mr. Bhat has been directed to complete the enquiry within three months from the date of order.

The inquiry officer, who has also been directed to submit a report to the District Magistrate would see whether the opening of fire by the police in the incidents was necessary and justified and whether the firing was excessive. The enquiry officer may hold the sittings at such places he considers necessary after issuing public notice for the same, Mr. Rao said in his order.

Relief

The Mangalore Sub-divisional Magistrate Krishnamurthy and Mangalore Tahshildar Ramachandra on Saturday distributed compensation cheques of Rs. 1 lakh each to the next of kin of Dinesh Amin and Premnath Kotian, who died in police firing. While Sujatha, wife of Amin, received the cheque, the authorities handed over the other cheque to Vasanthi, mother of Premnath Kotian, at her residence in Chitrapu.

The situation in curfew-bound Mulky was calm and no untoward incidents were reported when authorities relaxed curfew for two hours from 9 a.m. on Sunday. People came out in numbers to buy supplies of essential items.

Superintendent of Police B. Dayananda told The Hindu that people went about in an orderly manner buying items required and there was no commotion or confusion during the relaxation period.

Exempted

Mr. Dayananda said authorities had decided to exempt the Venkataramana Temple in Mulki police station limits from the purview of the curfew on Monday in view of an important religious event there. Noting that the event would be confined to the temple premises only, he said devotees proceeding to the temple should do so only in vehicles and along a specified route. People will not be allowed to proceed to the temple on foot.

On the progress in investigation into the murder of Shetty, Mr. Dayananda said there has no further development.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail