BJP accused of politicising youth's killing by ANF

B D Narayankar reports

Bangalore, Apr 26 (PTI) Karnataka Home Minister K J George today accused the BJP of politicising the killing of a youth by Anti-Naxal Force, mistaking him for a Maoist at a checkpost near Sringeri in Chikmagalur district last week.

"The BJP, from day one after we assumed office, has been saying that the law and order situation in the state has collapsed. They are politicising the issue and I needn't respond to their remarks in the killing of the youth by ANF personnel," he told reporters here.

Karnataka BJP General Secretary C T Ravi had alleged that the Congress was indulging in vote-bank politics by portraying the victim, Kabeer, as innocent.

ANF personnel allegedly shot dead Kabeer at Tanikodu check-post on Sringeri-Karkala Road on April 19. According to police, the ANF personnel mistook him for a Maoist.

Asked whether there were any cases against Kabeer earlier for illegally transporting cattle, George said, "It has not come to my notice of the youth having been booked for illegal transportation of cattle. I cannot say anything much on it as I am awaiting CID and Magisterial inquiry into his death."

On BJP's demand that the murder case filed against the ANF personnel who had shot dead Kabeer be withdrawn, George said, "The case was not filed at my behest, but the investigating agency has done so as per existing law."

To a question, George also said he has asked the police officials, including City Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar, to submit a report on cases involving private travel operators cheating Haj and Umrah pilgrims by not providing proper facilities.

No CBI probe into killing of youth by anti-naxal force: Karnataka Home Minister K J George

B D Narayankar reports
       
Bangalore, Apr 22 (PTI) Karnataka Home Minister K J George
today refused to pay heed to the demand for a CBI probe into
the killing of a youth by Anti-Naxal Force personnel at a
checkpost near Sringeri in Chikmagalur district, even as a
section of his partymen insisted on probe by the central probe
agency.
        "The CID is competent to investigate the incident and the
government would take appropriate action once the probe report
is submitted," he told reporters here.
        The Anti-Naxal Force personnel allegedly had shot dead
Kabeer at Tanikodu check-post on Sringeri–Karkala Road on
April 19. The police, however, had clarified that the ANF
officials mistook him for a Maoist.
        George said he has told the CID officials to expedite the
preliminary report and they have assured him that they would
submit it in the next two to three days.
        The Karnataka Muslim Federation, led by Information
Minister Roshan Baig and veteran Congress leader Janardhan
Poojary have urged Siddaramaiah to hand over the investigation
to CBI.
        George said there is nothing wrong in Poojary demanding a
CBI enquiry into the matter, but he could only decide after
the submission of the preliminary report.
        "Moreover, I am only a recommending authority. The
decision to hand over any case to the CBI rests on the Chief
Minister," he contended.
        He also argued that handing over the case to CBI would
demoralise his department, however, he was not against taking
such a step.
        On several occasions in the past the government has given
some cases to CBI, George said.


        To a query, George said the final report on Mallikarjun
Bande encounter case would be submitted to the government in
the next 10 days.
        "I had placed a preliminary report in the Assembly. Now I
am waiting for the ballistic and IT report on reconstruction
of sequence of crime. They have told me that they would submit
these two reports in next 10 days," he said.
        Bande, known for daredevilry in dealing with criminals,
along with another policeman, was injured in the shootout with
alleged criminal Munna Darbar, who was also shot dead, on
January 8.
        Bande died of bullet wounds on Januray 14 at a hospital in
Hyderabad where he was shifted from Gulbarga on January 9
after he sustained head injuries and had been kept on
ventilator.