The Hindu : Karnataka News : Central team asks Karnataka to take ‘more action’

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Wednesday, Sep 24, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Central team asks Karnataka to take ‘more action’

Special Correspondent

It visits attacked churches and prayer halls in Mangalore and Udupi

‘Arrest all those responsible ’
Did police acted in a partisan manner?

BANGALORE: The two-member Central team of officials which is on a two-day visit to Karnataka to assess the situation in the wake of attacks on churches and Christian prayer halls has called for “more action” from the Karnataka government to restore peace in the affected areas.

On arriving in Bangalore on Tuesday after visiting the affected areas in Mangalore and Udupi districts, Special Secretary (Internal Security) M. L. Kumawat, who heads the team, told presspersons, “We advise the State government to initiate more precautionary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”

He also stressed the need for arresting all those responsible for the attacks. “More arrests are needed,” he said and observed that such steps had to be taken to instil confidence among the victims.

When asked if the team was satisfied with the measures initiated by the government, he said: “It is not the question of our satisfaction. More importantly, the victims have to be satisfied.” Later, he told The Hindu that several victims had complained to them that the police had acted in a partisan manner. Some of the victims alleged that the police had assaulted them. The team had asked the district administrations of Mangalore and Udupi to ensure that those involved in the attacks and violence were brought to book, he said.

The team held discussions with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of the two districts, besides the Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order). It also spoke to some of the victims.

The team will visit the attacked churches in Bangalore on Wednesday and hold discussions with Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao before returning to Delhi. Mr. Kumawat said the team would submit its report to the Centre as early as possible.

‘Unfortunate’

Special Correspondent from Mangalore writes:

During his visit to St. Sebastian Church at Permannur near Ullal, Mr. Kumawat termed as “unfortunate” the incidents that had taken place on September 14 and later.

“We have asked the police to take stringent action against anti-social elements,” he said.

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