Thousands of Popular Front of India (PFI) activists on Friday staged a march to the office of the Dakshina Kannada district superintendent of police against the lathi charge on its members outside a police station in Puttur on December 14.
The police had caned the PFI and SDPI activists when they were staging a peaceful protest outside the Uppinangady police station seeking the release of two of their leaders detained in connection with recent attacks in the area.
More than 40 people had reportedly sustained serious injuries outside the police station and in the melee, some police personnel were also injured. Demanding action against police personnel responsible for the injuries of protestors, PFI called for the ‘SP office chalo’ march.
The march was stopped by police near the clock tower in the city as they had barricaded the area. City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar had earlier denied permission for the march beyond the clock tower.
The protestors submitted a memorandum to District Police Superintendent Rishikesh Sonawane, demanding legal action against the brutal lathi charge against its members
A 600-strong police force was deployed in the city to maintain law and order in view of the march.
The police had also booked 10 PFI members for their alleged involvement in the violence at Uppinangady. However, PFI State secretary A K Ashraf said that police were making up stories about the incidents. “There was no assault of policemen, stone-hurling or violence during the protest before the station”, he said.
Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) district president Abdul Majeed also challenged the district police to release the video of the Uppinangady incident and prove the alleged involvement of PFI workers in the violence on Tuesday.
Citizen groups also condemned the lathi charge and the alleged high-handedness of police at Uppinangady against members of the PFI and SDPI.
