Police Should not Compare Habitual Offenders with Persons having Petty Cases – Khader
Mangaluru: “The higher police officials should inform their police personnel to follow the election commission guidelines while dealing with people having cases against them. Sometimes the police constables call the persons to other police stations in old cases and take their fingerprints, photographs etc and harass them. I have discussed this issue with the police commissioner and have requested him to inform the police officers to follow the guidelines and not simply harass the people during the time of elections”, said the district minister in-charge U T Khader in a press meet held at the Circuit House here on March 6.
Addressing the mediapersons U T Khader said, “During the elections, the police are treating people who are habitual offenders and those with petty cases alike. When the police call the habitual offenders to the station let them follow the procedures according to the EC guidelines. But calling persons who had cases against them in the past like a quarrel between brothers minor fights in the Church, Temple or Mosque is not fair. If there was any case against a person in the court and the court has dismissed the case he/she should not be called to the police station to take their photographs or fingerprints”.
When asked about using any minister’s influence by some of the accused to get away from the law, U T Khader said, “If anyone uses my name in the Police station when they commit any crime, the police officers from the concerned police station should bring it to my notice since I don’t support anyone involved in crime nor will I allow anyone to misuse my name”.
When asked about the recent incident at the Mahalingeshwar Temple Kavoor, U T Khader said, “We follow various traditions and customs. Muslims hold Uroos, Christians hold festive mass and Hindus hold Pujas in their Temples. During Shivaratri, they hold the Mahapuja and Vigil which starts from 6 pm to 6 am. Police should not stop such religious programmes. When the area corporator called me and informed me about the incident I immediately spoke to the police commissioner and they immediately allowed the devotees to continue their Puja. I have asked all the reports of the incident, whether the devotees were hurt or abused by the police? If any of the police have behaved rudely with the devotees’ action will be taken.”
When asked about the case filed against Ramanath Rai, U T Khader said, “Why is it that during the elections they conduct IT raids? why were they quiet for one year? Why all of a sudden they have filed a case against Ramanath Rai? We all know Ramanath Rai is an upright man and he has done a lot of development work for his constituency. Because of this case, he will gain more sympathy from the people”.
Former minister Abhaychandra Jain and others were also present.
