Mangaluru : Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said here on Saturday that steps were being taken against the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) for holding a protest meeting without permission in Bantwal on Thursday. It later led to tension as stones were thrown at the protestors.

He told reporters that the SDPI activists had informed that they would only submit a memorandum to the tahsildar on Thursday against action on their party members in Madikeri.

But the SDPI held a protest meeting. “As many as 50 persons had gathered on that day,” Mr. Ibrahim said.

Similar demonstration was held in Vitla on Thursday. He said action was being taken for these violations.

Mr. Ibrahim said they had received information only on the demonstration in Salethur on Thursday morning. “The Assistant Commissioner cancelled the permission,” he said.

Mr. Ibrahim said situation in the district was being monitored on a regular basis. A report about the condition in the district has been submitted to Additional Chief Secretary on Friday.

District In-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai reviewed the situation on Saturday. Additional Director Generals of Police Alok Mohan and A.M. Prasad were camping in the district and monitoring the situation.

While prohibitory orders were in force till Sunday night, exemptions have been given for organising a Yakshagana programme in Sampaje on Saturday and talamaddale programme in the University College in the city on Sunday. “I am not granting permission for any functions in the district,” he said.

Mr. Ibrahim appealed to the media not to highlight such incidents which create panic among people. Incidents of stone throwing and stabbing, he claimed, were happening on a “regular basis”. Highlighting such “stray incidents” in the form of “breaking news” creates panic among people, especially parents staying in other parts of the State whose children are studying in colleges in Mangaluru and Moodbidri.

Mr. Ibrahim said situation in the city and other parts of the district had returned to normalcy.

As many as five persons have been admitted to hospitals following stray incidents of stone throwing and stabbing in the last two days.

All the five will be released from the hospitals in another two days.