BJP State leaders stage protest against police ‘disrobing’ woman

On day two after a video of a BJP worker being “disrobed” during her arrest became viral on social media, party State leaders joined the protest against the police brutality in Hubballi on Friday, while Congress leaders released a video to expose what they termed as the “true face” of the arrested BJP worker.

The Congress also accused BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginakai of being behind the whole episode.

The day began with Congress leader Rajat Ullagaddimath releasing an earlier video clip in which BJP worker Sujata Handi is seen “torturing” a “disrobed” man and demanding a comprehensive probe into the whole incident.

Mr. Ullagaddimath said that BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginakai is behind the release of the video clip in which the “disrobed” BJP worker is seen.

He said that only a portion of the whole clipping has been released to defame the police by distorting facts. He even said that the brother of Sujata Handi, Mariyadas, is the one who released the video clip as part of a larger conspiracy hatched by Mr. Tenginakai and demanded a thorough probe into the whole incident.

Protest

On Friday, Leaders of Opposition in the Assembly and Council R. Ashok and Chalvadi Narayanaswamy, respectively, accompanied by Mr. Tenginakai  and scores of women took part in a protest march in Hubballi condemning the incident. They demanded action against the police personnel involved.

Staging a demonstration in front of an Ambedkar’s statue and taking out the protest march, they demanded strict action against the guilty.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Leaders of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Council R. Ashok and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and party MLA Mahesh Tenginakai meeting the family members of the BJP worker Sujata Handi at the Circuit House in Hubballi on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
KIRAN BAKALE

Later, along with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Mr. Ashok and Mr. Narayanaswamy met the family members of Sujata Handi at the Circuit House in Hubballi. They also chaired a meeting with senior police officials.

Subsequently, addressing presspersons, Mr. Ashok said that the State government has snatched away of the right of women to live with dignity. He said that the whole police station has been converted into Congress office by councillor Suvarna Kallakuntla.

He demanded judicial inquiry into the whole episode and sought suspension of the Inspector of Police and the Sub-Inspector of Police because of whose irresponsibility the incident happened.

The Police Commissioner has assured me of taking action against the guilty officials, he said.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi (centre) addressing the media in Hubballi on Friday over police misconduct while arresting a woman BJP worker.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

On the video clip in which the BJP worker is seen “torturing” a man, Mr. Pralhad Joshi said that the incident happened in 2023 when the woman was not in the BJP.

Moreover, just because someone has criminal antecedents one cannot be shot on the road or judgement be passed against him unduly, he said.

Mr. Joshi said that those in the government should not issue certificates even before inquiring into an incident. First, an impartial inquiry should be conducted into the whole episode, he demanded.

Transferred

In a related development Police Inspector of Keshwapur Police Station S.K. Hatti, under whose jurisdiction the incident took place, has been transferred to the Police Commissioner’s office.

The Inspector of Ghantikeri Police Station has been given additional charge of Keshwapur Police Station.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar has appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaraj Katakabavi as the inquiry officer to look into the cases registered against Sujata Handi and others.