Karnataka CM Seeks Report on Alleged Police Excesses During Anti-SIR Protest

Bengaluru, Oct 13 : Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said he had sought a detailed report on the alleged police high-handedness during an anti-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) protest in Bengaluru, warning that accountability would be fixed if unnecessary force had been used.

In a statement on social media, Shivakumar said peaceful protest was a fundamental right in a democracy and stressed that the same standards must apply in Bengaluru as those demanded by the Congress and the INDIA bloc during demonstrations in New Delhi against alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls.

“We cannot demand that right for ourselves in Delhi and deny it to others,” he said, adding that disagreement with the government or its leaders could not take away anyone’s right to express dissent peacefully.

“I have taken note of yesterday’s incident involving protesters and members of the media. I have sought a full report on the circumstances that led to the police action. If there has been any unnecessary use of force or excess, accountability will follow,” he said.

“Karnataka must hold itself to the democratic standards that we expect from the rest of the country. There will be no double standards,” Shivakumar added.

The statement comes amid allegations that police manhandled women protesters and journalists covering a demonstration near the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Bengaluru on Monday.

Police detained around 50-60 protesters after they attempted to stage a demonstration against alleged irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls.

Several journalists covering the protest were also allegedly manhandled. Video footage purportedly showed plainclothes personnel roughing up a photojournalist and snatching a camera. Some women protesters also alleged that they were roughed up during the police action.

However, Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) said the protesters had assembled without permission or prior notice, contrary to the Karnataka High Court’s directive that demonstrations be held at designated locations.

According to the police, the protesters were asked to move to Freedom Park but refused to comply. They were subsequently taken into preventive custody in accordance with the law and released later, the officer said in a social media post.

The incident has drawn attention to the handling of protests over the SIR exercise, with Shivakumar’s remarks underscoring the need to uphold the right to peaceful dissent while examining allegations of police excesses.

The Congress and the INDIA bloc have been protesting in New Delhi over alleged irregularities in the revision of electoral rolls and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Karnataka government’s response to the Bengaluru incident is expected to depend on the findings of the report sought by Shivakumar.