Only officers should inquire into SC/ST atrocity cases: SP

Only officers should inquire into SC/ST atrocity cases: SP

March 29. 2010

Mangalore March 29: Superintendent of Police Dr A Subramanyeshwar Rao directed all police officers in the district not to handover cases under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to Head Constables and Constables.

Addressing at an SC/ST grievance meet at the Police Guest House here on Sunday, Rao said that the police officers should directly conduct inquiry into such cases after visiting spots. Cases under the same SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act will be booked against those police officials, who do not respond to the complaints of Dalits properly, he warned.

The SP instructed that police should treat SC/ST complainants fairly and ensure that their complaints are registered properly. Treat all SC/ST complainants in the same manner you treat the rich, he said adding that cops should introspect themselves as to how members of the SC/ST communities were treated in their police stations.  Grievance meetings should be organised in all police stations on third Sundays of every month compulsorily. If the meeting was not conducted on the prescribed date due to any valid reason, the same should be conducted next day, Rao said. Initiative should be taken to create awareness on the provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the station-level grievance meetings, he added.

Talking about cases related to tresspassing or encroachment on land belonging to Dalits, the SP said that such cases should also be considered under purview of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police should register cases under the Act if prima facie offense was sighted in the complaint, he suggested.

Action sought against SIs

Karnataka Dalitha Sangharsha Samithi District Convener S P Ananda said that action should be taken against Sub Inspectors Chikkaswamy Gowda and Raghava Padil for allegedly torturing an Akashavani transmission executive Sudhakar, who is a Dalit.
Ananda brought to the notice of SP that Uppinangadi Sub Inspector demanded Rs 1,000 bribe from a Dalit youth Vasanth for putting a stall at the annual festival ground. He said that the officer had threatened Vasanth and removed his stall forcefully.

Explaining another complaint, Ananda said that the Kavoor Police detained Rajappa and his two-year-old child from morning till evening without any reason. Rajappa and his family were staying in a house constructed on government land for the past 20 years. However, the police harassed Rajappa without any complaints, he added. 

SP A S Rao assured that the police will conduct inquiry into all allegations and take necessary steps to ensure justice. Meanwhile, answering to a query with regard to the defamation complaint filed by former Mangalore University lecturer Umeshchandra against a Kannada daily Editor and Reporter, DySP S Girish said that the inquiry is in its final stage. A chargesheet will be submitted before the court soon, he added.  Additional SP R Ramesh, DySPs B J Bhandary and C K Shashidhar were present.

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