Mangaluru police firing: HD Kumaraswamy slams officials, govt

MANGALURU: Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, slamming the BS Yediyurappa government over the recent unrest in Mangaluru, said officials behind police firing should be suspended and all of them should be sent to jail.
Kumaraswamy, who visited families of two victims who died in police firing and others injured during CAA protest on Sunday, said the incident is a result of police lapses, and he blamed city police commissioner PS Harsha for the untoward incidents and misleading the people.He also demanded the removal of home minister Basavaraj Bommai from the cabinet.
At a press conference, Kumaraswamy said the protesters would have shouted slogans and left the venue had the government given permission to hold protests. “Protests opposing CAA and NRC were held peacefully in Kalaburagi, Hassan, Bengaluru and many other places in the state. However, only in Mangaluru, the police acted in an uncivilised manner and killed two innocent people, who were not involved in any violence. Did police register an FIR against anyone for the incident? Suspend all officials responsible for this and send them to jail. Officials have registered FIRs against those two died in the firing and those who are injured too,” he demanded.
Officials were given instructions by the government through video conferencing, not to allow protests in Mangaluru,” Kumaraswamy said, adding that the government has no humanitarian considerations.
Criticising home minister Basavaraj Bommai, Kumaraswamy said, “He is unfit to be the home minister of this state.”
When the situation in Mangaluru was worsening, the state’s home minister was sitting in Delhi. “Who gave the permission to clamp prohibitory orders in Mangaluru?” he questioned, and demanded the ouster of the home minster from the cabinet. “Is the home minister directing police, or is it the parallel government led by Prabhakar Bhat (RSS leader)?” Kumaraswamy questioned.