Mangaluru : The Mangaluru Rural Police Station personals staged staged a protest on Tuesday against decrying a direction by their higher-ups to their station house officer, Police Inspector Pramod Kumar, to go on a 10-day leave.

The personnel came out of the station building in the evening and stood outside silently venting out their anguish. They alleged that the leave followed the arrest of Abubakker Siddiqui, one of the accused in the recent communal clashes that had erupted in nearby Ulaibettu.

Siddiqui was arrested on Monday evening and by Tuesday morning, the Inspector was asked to go on leave due to political pressure, the personnel said. Such an action would demoralise the entire force and the Inspector should be allowed to perform his duties, the personnel said. Mr. Pramod Kumar, known for his tough action, was able to curb the illegal sand mafia in his jurisdiction and also other anti-social activities. Attempts were being made by politicians to get the officer transferred for quite some time. Recently, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) too had expressed its opposition to the efforts being made to get the Inspector transferred.

The agitating personnel were soon joined by residents of the area and members of organisations such as DYFI, Hindu Jagarana Vedike and others.

The residents also stopped movement of vehicles on the bypass connecting National Highway 66 and National Highway 75.

Alwyn, a resident, said they did not want “lose” their Inspector. If the Inspector is not brought back on duty immediately, the residents would continue the protest overnight, he said. Instead of improving the police station, the government is acting against a tough officer, he regretted.

Police Commissioner S. Murugan, who urged the personnel to resume their duty, told them and the public that he had not directed Mr. Pramod Kumar to go on leave nor sanctioned any leave.