Mangaluru: Curfew relaxed, CM assures probe into violence
Mangaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday said an inquiry will be conducted into the violence that rocked this coastal city during the anti-CAA protests, leaving two dead in police firing, as he announced relaxation in the curfew clamped here.
Visiting the city after Thursday's violence, the Chief Minister appealed for peace and also said he has instructed the district administration to provide compensation to the families of those dead as per the provisions of law.
"Every one wants the curfew to be revoked. I have discussed with officials and the Home Minister- today from 3 pm to 6 pm it will be relaxed, during the night curfew will continue.
Tomorrow curfew will be lifted during the entire day time, but it will be imposed in the night," Yediyurappa told reporters here.
"On Monday the curfew will be revoked, but section 144 (order banning assembly of more than four people) will continue," he said, adding that people can celebrate Christmas or any other Hindu-Muslim festivities without any disturbance.
Despite prohibitory orders demonstrations had turned violent in Mangaluru on Thursday. Police had initially clamped curfew in parts of the city until Friday night, and later extended it to the entire Mangaluru commissionerate limits till December 22 midnight.
On reaching here, Yediyurappa met the family members of two persons who were killed in the firing, and also held a meeting with representatives of Christian and Muslim communities, political leaders and officials.
He noted that he had earlier met with two to three teams of Muslim leaders in Bengaluru and every one had promised cooperation in maintaining peace.
In Mangaluru as there were attempts by protesters to take the law into their hands, "untoward incidents" have happened.
"Home Minister and I will discuss on what kind of inquiry should be conducted.. and we will get the inquiry done," he said. No one has "solace" because of the violence, he said.
"As the crowd had gathered around the building where fire arms were stored and made attempts to indulge in destruction it was inevitable for police to use force. In case the crowd had managed to access the arms- we can think what could have happened," Yediyurappa said.
Two people were killed in police firing on Thursday as the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act had turned violent.
Police sources said protesters attempted to lay siege to the Mangalore North police station and tried to attack police personnel, following which force was used to disperse them.
Yediyurappa said he hasdirected the district Deputy Commissioner to announce compensation to the next of kin of those deceased within the framework of law.
"We have also discussed that if any of them don't have house, government can help in constructing it."
Calling for maintenance of peace, the Chief Minister said his government will not discriminate between Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
"We want every one to co-exist peacefully as children born to the same mother. This is the expectation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," he said.
He claimed that few journalists from Kerala had come here without any identity card. "Why did they come, what was their activity, will be inquired into, to find out the truth," he said.
Eight journalists and camera crew of Kerala-based TV channels, who had interviewed relatives of those killed in the firing were released and taken to Thalappady bordering Kerala, seven hours after being detained by police in front of the Government Wenlock hospital on Friday, allegedly for not having authorised accreditation card, sources said.
Responding to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's allegation that the violence was government sponsored, Yediyurappa said "As a leader of opposition he should speak responsibly and not make irresponsible statements.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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