Only preventive action on Surathkal toll gate protesters, says police commissioner
Mangaluru, Oct 16: The Mangaluru city police on Sunday clarified that certain preventive proceedings have been carried out on some individuals in the light of some provocative statements made by them ahead of the proposed siege' of the toll gate at Surathkal on October 18.
The clarification comes in the wake of criticism about the late-night operation by the police on Saturday by serving notices to activists demanding the removal of the toll gate.
City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said some major participants of the agitation have been served notices. They are asked to appear before the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) who is an executive magistrate under 107 CrPc, he said.
"Privacy of every individual is to be respected and more so for women. I have asked ACP North Mahesh Kumar to enquire into the issue and submit a report to me," he said.
Kumar said Mangaluru police have always facilitated every democratic and peaceful protest or agitation of any individual organisations or party.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Prathibha Kulai, whose house was also visited by the police at midnight, lashed out at the district administration and the BJP for the police action.
In a Facebook post, she said it is a shame and disgrace that the administration is trying to crush the agitation planned for October 18.
"I respect the law of the land. Last night at 11.45 pm, five police personnel of Surathkal station landed at my home in Kulai which has been captured on a CCTV camera. My 74-year-old mother-in-law was terrified to see the police behaviour," she said, adding that the notice was not taken as she was not at home.
"I am a social worker and not a terrorist. Can anyone come knocking on the door of a house at midnight to serve notice to a woman?" she wrote in the post.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
