Karnataka Minister D Sudhakar booked under Atrocities Act, BJP demands his resignation
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Minister D Sudhakar and three others have been booked by the police here based on a complaint by a woman alleging atrocities against her and her family and an assault on her daughter over a property dispute, police officials said on Tuesday.
Officials said the victim and her family reside at the disputed property which falls under the limits of Yelahanka police station.
The minister and his associates have been accused of trespassing and forcefully trying to evict the victim and her family though the matter of property dispute is pending in court.
A purported video of the Planning and Statistics Minister, who has now been booked under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act) 1989 and various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), in circulation on social media shows the minister allegedly abusing and threatening some people.
In the FIR filed on September 10, the victim has alleged that on Saturday, the minister along with some real estate developers and others reached the disputed property at Yelahanka when no one was at home. The minister had come along with 35-40 people in the group. They allegedly barged into the property.
Using JCB, the accused party tried to demolish the building and compound wall on the disputed property. When the victim and her family came to know about the incident, they rushed to the spot. When she and her family members questioned them about their actions, they tried to overpower them and used casteist remarks against them, she alleged in the complaint.
The complainant alleged that they also physically assaulted her daughter and other family members, the FIR added.
"Based on the complaint received, we have registered the FIR. All the allegations are being looked into and the matter is under investigation," a senior police officer said.
Following the incident, Sudhakar is said to have met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister G Parameshwara and discussed the case.
Stating that the land dealing was lawfully done several years ago, the minister said the atrocities case has been filed against him "all of a sudden". "It is completely false", he said.
"There is no question of me abusing any caste," said the minister. "A conspiracy has been hatched against me as I am a minister now. There is law and court and I am open to any inquiry."
Meanwhile, BJP leader and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has demanded Sudhakar's resignation, and urged the police to not succumb to any pressure and deal with it as any normal case.
Responding to the allegations, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar called it a false case and ruled out Sudhakar's resignation.
"It is a private issue. I have checked with Sudhakar and others. It is a false case, nothing has happened, it is a civil dispute. They are trying to misuse the act (Atrocities act) they shouldn't have done it. It can be misused against anyone tomorrow," he said.
"Everyone including Sudhakar has to respect the law, officers have explained that it is a false case," he said.
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At least 17,000 security personnel to be deployed for Champions Trophy in Pakistan
Lahore, Jan 22 (PTI): At least 17,000 security personnel would be deployed for the ICC Champions Trophy matches in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi from February 19.
According to sources, the Punjab government has started preparations to provide security round the clock for the participating teams, covering the team hotel as well as the match venues in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
“The Punjab government will deploy some 12,500 officers and other security personnel for the matches and for the teams,” an official said.
He added that 7,600 police and security personnel including special commandos will be on duty for matches in Lahore, while 4,500 officers, including 411 from the Special Branch, will oversee security in Rawalpindi.
The official said that snipers and aerial monitoring will be carried out during the tournament with support from the Army if required.
He said the paramilitary Rangers personnel would be on active duty with the police.
In Karachi, a spokesperson for the Sindh police said that the commissioner had already held meetings to oversee security arrangements for the matches at the National Stadium.
“Plans are being drawn up and at least 5000 or more security personnel including units of the Sindh police would be deployed for the matches, on routes and at team hotels.”
Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup in 2023 but staged only four games with all the other matches held in Sri Lanka after India refused to send its team to Pakistan which they have also done for the Champions Trophy.
This time the PCB will be hosting a minimum of 11 Champions Trophy matches and perhaps even the final and before that it will host New Zealand and South Africa in a short tri-series in Lahore and Karachi. India will their games in Dubai.
Karachi will not only host the opening match of the Champions Trophy on February 19 but also two games of the tri-series on February 12 and 14.
