Mahadevappa visits Udayagiri police station after stone-pelting incident

Minister in charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa speaking to reporters outside the Udayagiri police station in Mysuru on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

Minister in charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa on Thursday visited the Udayagiri police station along with the deputy commissioner and senior police officials in connection with the stone-pelting incident that took place outside the police station on Monday night over a derogatory social media post.

Speaking to reporters, the Minister said no innocent will be punished over the incident that took place outside the station. “No innocent will be arrested…The police have not arrested any innocent in the case. The CCB is investigating the case, and the arrests have been done based on the CCTV footage,” Mr. Mahadevappa said.

The Minister said the leaders in the locality have also expressed satisfaction over the police action and calming the tense situation. The youth must also have patience and should not believe in rumours. They should not take law into their own hands, he said.

While appreciating the Udayagiri police for the timely action and controlling the situation, the Minister said the CCB, which is probing the incident, will look into all aspects and the reasons for the trouble.

The police registered a suo motu case given the tension in the locality and later arrested the accused who is now in judicial custody. Law and order was important for the police and they took action accordingly, he said.

In reply to questions on the arrests made in the case, the Minister said well-timed and sensible action of the police brought the situation under control. “The arrests have been made based on the footage.”

Mr. Mahadevappa said the deputy commissioner and the police commissioner briefed him immediately after the incident. “I told the officers to ensure law and order and act as per law. Consequently, action is being taken against the wrongdoers. The CCB will bring out the truth,” he said.

The Minister said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened a meeting in Bengaluru on Friday in connection with the Udayagiri incident. Senior police officers will participate.

On the demand for another police station in the locality, the Minister said there is no need for another station if everyone complies with the law. Nevertheless, the demand will be looked into, considering the population of the locality and other aspects, he added.

Karnataka Exhibition Authority chairman Ayub Khan, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Muthuraj, and others were present.