Yediyurappa promises inquiry into police firing, says Section 144 to stay

The ongoing curfew in Mangalore will be lifted between 3 and 6 pm, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has said.

He was talking to media persons after calling on the families of the two people killed in police firing on anti-CAA protesters on December 19.

The CM said a compensation would be paid to the families.

On the law and order situation, Yediyurappa said Section 144 would continue to stay and night curfew would be imposed to prevent untoward incidents.

Terming the police firing and subsequent death of two people unfortunate, he said the police were trying to stop ‘miscreants’ as there was a police armoury nearby. “Think what would have happened if the miscreants lay hands on the guns,” he said.

He said an investigation would look into the alleged police excesses but was unclear on whether a judicial commission would be constituted. The chief minister said he was ‘concerned’ over the fact that the police had entered a hospital and used force there.

On the detention of journalists from Kerala, the CM said, “No one is happy about what happened to the journalists.” He expressed regret and said an investigation would be conducted to find out what happened. The CM reasoned that the journalists came without ID cards.

The CM said talks had been held with Christian community leaders as Christmas was imminent. He urged everyone to take part in the Christmas festivities. “The government of Karnataka will not discriminate against anyone in the name of religion,” he said. He urged everyone to ‘live as the children of one mother’ and said this was PM Narendra Modi vision too – ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas.’