Communities understand need for peace following Uppinangady communal clash – IGP Pratap Reddy

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 27, 2012 : Interacting with reporters on the subject of communal clashes after the recently held Hindu Samajotsava in Uppinangady, IGP (western range) Prathap Reddy said that both communities under the importance of peace. Although the leaders of the two communities had differences of opinion recently, they have admitted that they need to maintain peace at recently held peace meetings.

Denying that the incident shows the police as inefficient, he said that the fact that both communities are blaming the police proves beyond doubt that the police did an excellent job in bringing the situation under order. He also said that the police are collecting public feedback in order to use it in a constructive manner.

Stating that the role of senior police officers is to provide leadership in such circumstances, he said that the public feedback is being passed on the police personnel so that they can do a better job next time. The IGP also said that the cases registered by the DK police after the communal clashes will be investigated on the basis of evidence and according to the law.

Admitting that democracy indeed gives people the right to speech, the IGP said that the police have to step in when things get out of hand as they did in Uppinangady. He further said that the police are taking care to take videos of all public protests, rallies, and speeches so that any inflammatory statements made by any community leader can be used as evidence against them in a court of law.

Speaking on the occasion, DC N. S. Channappa Gowda said that the district administration has attempted to reach out to both communities and has held two peace meetings so far. Stating that the leaders of the two communities have agreed to maintain peace, he said that the administration has assured the leaders that action will be taken against those who create disturbances in society.

Stating that a suggestion was given at one of the peace meetings that such meetings must be held at the rural level, he said that taluk tahsildars and executive officers of taluk panchayats will be instructed to repeat the exercise at village levels so that any differences of opinion can be sorted out immediately.