Karnataka: At Least 40 Injured After Police Lathi-Charge On PFI Protesters, Section 144 Imposed In Uppinangady

The Uppinangady police on Tuesday night resorted to lathi-charge on protesters, who had gathered to protest outside the police station against the detention of three Popular Front of India (PFI) leaders in connection with a recent assault case. More than 40 people have reportedly sustained serious injuries while nine police personnel have also been injured in the incident.

Uppinangady police station on Tuesday afternoon summoned PFI Uppinangady unit president Abdul Hameed, Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) Nekkeladi president Mohammed Zakaria and local PFI leader Mustafa Lateer in connection to an assault case. Soon after, PFI members gathered near the police station and started demanding the release of their leaders.

When the police only released one of the three detainees and failed to release the other two, the protesters once again gathered outside the police station at night demanding their immediate release. The police then resorted to the lathi charge around 9 pm to disperse the crowd.

Two In Critical Condition

Addressing the media on Wednesday, Ijaz Ahmed D.K District President of PFI said, “The police who undertook an overnight inquiry had detained three individuals. However, the police did not provide any information concerning the reason for their detainment. When the protesters gathered in front of the police station to oppose the unlawful detainment, the police assured them that they had taken the individuals for mere inquiry. When the protesters did not bow down and insisted on the immediate release of the innocent detainees, after much deliberation and time, the police released one of the detained men named Abdul Hameed and then assured the protesters that they would release the other two men after a while. The protesters then withdrew the protest based on the police assurances.”

“However, when even after two hours they had not released the detained men, the protesters returned and resumed their protest seeking the release of the innocent men. While the protesters were demonstrating peacefully and conveying their demands, without provocation or warning, the police began swinging their wooden lathis on the gathering. They have done so in a very monstrous, cruel manner. Normally, when the police resort to lathi-charging, they do so to disperse the crowd by targeting the legs, but in this case, several protesters were beaten on their heads, and they have sustained grievous injuries to the head during this incident of police brutality.”

“The religious leader of the Muslims, Sayed Aathur Thangal who had been standing at the forefront during the peaceful protest was subjected to police brutality resulting in critical injuries to his head. He is now admitted to the ICU at a private hospital receiving treatment. Amid the attacks, a distressing sight of a youngster having fallen unconscious on the street after receiving blows to the head was also recorded. Among the injured who were hospitalized, the condition of two is said to be serious and about 40 individuals are reportedly receiving treatment at various hospitals”, he expressed.

PFI Members Accuse Police Of Exhibited Vengeful, Retaliatory Attitude

“When the injured were being taken to the hospital, the police have also swung their lathis(wooden sticks/batons) on the ambulances and created an atmosphere of fear and panic. At the same time, police stopped an ambulance near the station and caused severe troubles, obstacles against admitting the injured to the hospitals. The police have also lashed out and maliciously swung the lathis against the leaders who had been in talks with them during the incident.”

“The protesters, who had been demonstrating their protests since morning, were doing so peacefully. Despite the threat and provocation from the police, the protesters had not lost their calm and kept their restraint even till night. But at around 9:30 pm, the police crept on the protester from behind them and began beating them brutally with their lathis. Among those injured in their barbaric lathi-charge, the majority of the protesters have been beaten on their head, grievously injuring them, this reveals the vengeful, retaliatory attitude of the police. And amid all these developments, to hide their evil actions, as per usual they have resorted to concocting false stories about being attacked.”

PFI State Secretary, A.K. Ashraf elaborated on the background of the incident and said, “The police requested the cooperation of the local PFI leaders, and the leaders complied by going with the officers for routine inquiry. In the background of the recent incident, where Bajrang Dal members were attacked, the police have been unable to catch the real culprits thus far. Seemingly bowing down to some political pressure the police have tried to bargain with the local leaders by asking for an exchange of personal information, i.e. a list of members in the organization in a ploy to frame them. When they refused to violate the privacy of the organization’s members, the police resorted to unlawfully detaining them”, he said.

PFI Demands Impartial Investigation

PFI has demanded for an impartial investigation into the incident and has asked for the suspension of the officer who gave out the orders to carry out the lathi-charge.

“Stern action must be taken against the police officers and staff who have caused several people to be grievously injured by carrying out an unprovoked lathi-charge against them, without any reason. The police department must immediately suspend the officer who gave out the orders to carry out the lathi-charge. The cost of treatment for the injuries sustained in the Lathi charge must be borne by the government. The police who took away two individuals under the pretext of inquiry have filed false cases against them. These false cases must be immediately withdrawn. The protesters who have been unjustly detained by the police must be unconditionally released immediately. The police must act impartially without bowing down to any political pressure and thus, uphold the dignity and sanctity of law”, the organisation demanded.

Section 144 Imposed

Following the incident, Section 144 has been imposed in Uppinangady.

In the meanwhile, PFI announced a march to the Mangaluru SP’s office against the lathi-charge and arrest of its leaders on Friday, December 17.