Minister apologises for ‘police brutality’

BENGALURU: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara on Sunday apologised for the alleged police brutality on women in Dharwad district during the state-wide shutdown

BENGALURU: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara on Sunday apologised for the alleged police brutality on women in Dharwad district during the state-wide shutdown on Saturday against an interstate tribunal’s verdict on sharing of Mahadayi river.

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“I apologise to the women and children who were caned by police at Yamanur village in Dharwad district while searching for those who indulged in violence during the shutdown (on Saturday),” Parameshwara told reporters here after video footage and pictures of the incident went viral in social media and were telecast in news channels. Dharwad district is about 430 km from Bengaluru.

Besides transferring deputy superintendent of police, Dharwad Rural, and suspending Navalgund circle inspector, Parameshwara directed additional director general of police Kamal Pant to inquire into the incident and submit the report in a week.

“I have also told police not to file cases against women, senior citizens and children but against those who torched government offices and damaged public property,” he said.

The caning of women and children sparked an outrage across the state. One of the videos showed police first thrashing farmers who courted arrest at Navalgund and assaulting even aged women and their children to tell where rioters were hiding.