Provide Security and Fearless Atmosphere for New Year Celebrations – CFMD
Mangaluru: The Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development approached the Police Commissioner on December 29 and submitted a memorandum to take precautionary measures for the smooth celebration of New year on December 31 night.
The letter to the Home Minister and the Police commissioner stated, “Increase in right-wing Immoral Policing/rowdyism in Dakshina Kannada. Atmosphere of fear during New Year due to Bajrang Dal/ VHP threats and Failure of police department to provide security to citizens against the above”.
With a deep sense of dismay, we are hereby approaching you for your immediate intervention in addressing the deteriorating law and order situation in Dakshina Kannada, especially in Mangaluru City due to the increase in anti-social activities by right-wing elements.
The following is a brief summary of disturbing developments in the recent past:
It has been widely reported in the media that the Commissioner of Mangaluru City Police gave audience to Bajrang Dal and VHP to press their demands regarding curbing New Year Celebrations. Subsequently, leaders of the Bajrang Dal and VHP issued threatening statements holding the ‘police department solely responsible for any untoward happenings on that day’. (Refer Annexures 1 & 2)
A subsequent police advisory dated 28‐12‐2017 issued by the office of Mangaluru City Police Commissioner (Annexure ‐ 3) regarding New Year Celebrations unmistakably reveals that the police department has completely abdicated its responsibility to protect the good citizens of Mangalore from anti‐social elements who are bent on disrupting social harmony.
We object to the tone and tenor of the police advisory which is offensive to the dignity and civic rights of the citizens of Mangalore who have every right to celebrate New Year. (Refer Point 12 in the Advisory. It is unclear who this is directed at and can be easily misused by goonda elements or even law enforcers against party‐going girls and women) After reading the advisory, both its content and its overall spirit leaves us in no doubt that the Police Department has decided to act as an enforcer of the unreasonable demands and diktats of the Bajrang Dal and VHP. In fact, the advisory puts so many stiff conditions on the citizens and the event organizers that instead of instilling confidence among the citizenry, it seems to make it impossible to celebrate New Year in any meaningful way.
Mangaluru City Police has specified 12:00 midnight as the deadline for concluding any public New Year events. This is like making a mockery of the citizens at this very moment (12:00 midnight) marks the onset of the New Year. On the other hand, we learnt from news reports that Bangalore Police are allowing 2:00 a.m. as the deadline and there is no reason for Mangaluru City Police to discriminate against its citizens other than their own incompetence or reluctance in dealing with goons belonging to right wings outfits.
Despite Bajrang Dal and VHP issuing open threats, Mangaluru City Police have not given any assurance of protection to the citizens against ‘vigilante’ goondaism on New Year night. In fact, while the aforementioned police advisory imposes a stiff condition on citizens, it contains not even a single word of caution to these immoral policing groups against interfering in the New Year celebrations or taking the law into their own hands. They have also made no efforts to curb their activities, secure bonds from those issuing threats/known offenders or to place potential troublemakers under preventive custody.
The above situation has caused a general fear psychosis and needless trauma for the citizens who were planning to celebrate New Year in a relaxed and enjoyable way. Many organizers of New Year events are in limbo and people are scared to attend New Year parties. This indicates that it is the Bajrang Dal and VHP mafia elements who control this city and not civic administration and the police.
In addition to the above, we wish to draw your attention to the following recent developments:
Right-wing elements are actively trying to import and embed the fake concept of ‘Love Jihad’ into Dakshina Kannada to instigate communal tensions. Two incidents have been blown out of proportion under this concept and there is every likelihood of the situation getting out of control if their activities are not curbed.
A local godman called Rajashekaranand Swami of Vajradehi Math has announced the formation of his Special Task Force (STF) against ‘Love Jihad’ to keep an eye on and rein in Hindu girls. If this is allowed to go unchecked, we can expect more of organised trouble in the near future.
Increasing incidences of Immoral Policing are being reported since the past few months and the police department is doing nothing to curb it.
Due to the above reasons, we are deeply disappointed with the Mangaluru City Police. The Mangalore region was notorious for immoral Police goondaism of right-wing outfits. This was one of the reasons for the huge victory of Congress Party in the previous assembly elections as people had placed their hopes in your party to curb right-wing mafia activities.
Though your government has given us a brief spell of peace, we are alarmed to see anti-social elements once again attempting to take charge of the city and dismayed to observe the inability of the police to respond effectively to its growing menace to the public.
We request you to initiate urgent action regarding the above.
The memorandum was submitted by Vidya Dinker, Shwetha Rasquinha, Aman Ahmed, K Gopika, Vinod Mascarenhas, Kishore Attavar, Sanjan, Abdulla, Angel, Akhileshs, Joel Pinto and Johnas to the Police commissioner through DCP Law and Order Hanumantharaya.