Cong govt planning to withdraw cases against rioters in Old Hubballi, DJ Halli, other incidents?

HUBBALLI: The Congress government in the state seems to be planning withdraw cases against rioters involved in the Old Hubballi case which occurred in April last year. The move follows a letters written from Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to the Home ministry.

A WhatsApp status of a youth had triggered stone-pelting near the Old Hubballi police station and miscreants had damaged police vehicles even after the youth was arrested. In all, 12 FIRs were filed and 125 people were arrested in the case. Only AIMIM corporator Nazeer Honyal and seven minors are out on bail while the rest are lodged in Ballari and Kalaburagi prisons.

Not only the Hubballi case, the government may also be looking at dropping cases against those involved in violence in KG Halli-DJ Halli in Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Haveri, Mandya, Mysuru and other districts. An indicator towards this is a letter written by the Home ministry to the police commissioners and superintendents of police on September 13 seeking a report on the issue.

The Home ministry has been writing to the SPs and commissioners and the jurisdictional police stations seeking information about the FIRs lodged, chargesheets presented and details of witnesses.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah speaking to media persons in Belagavi.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, responding to questions from media persons on the issue in Belagavi, initially claimed there is no such proposal before the government. When it was pointed out that that Deputy CM D K Shivakumar had written a letter to the DG&IGP in this regard, he said, “The Vokkaligara Sangha had written to him and based on that, he has written to me. I saw the letter only today”.

Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar.

Responding to questions from the media, Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar said, “These matters cannot be disclosed publicly. From time to time, the Home department seeks information and we provide it. It is confidential information and cannot be disclosed”.

Union minister Shobha Karandlaje lambasted the Congress government in the state.

“Congress ministers are in the forefront to withdraw cases against criminals. Dr G Parameshwara and Tanveer Sait wrote letters saying that the DJ Halli-KG Halli case should be withdrawn. Now, D K Shivakumar has written saying that the Old Hubballi case should be withdrawn. What is their objective and what are they planning to do? A few days ago, there were banners and posters of Aurangazeb on Akhand Bharat, his sword, and Tipu Sultan’s cutouts all across the city, but the government won’t act, but will stand with fundamentalist forces. The honeymoon period for the government is over and we will launch protests against corruption, appeasement, etc”, said Union minister Shobha Karandlaje.