Mangaluru : District In-charge Minister U T Khader said that the action against police disruption of Shivarathri celebrations at the Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple, Kavoor, will be based on a report by the Mangaluru City Commissioner of Police.

Police officials had disrupted the bhajan sessions and a Yakshagana performance organised by the temple committee on Monday night.

Khader addressed reporters at Circuit House on Wednesday. He said that he had been informed by corporator Deepak Poojary and activist Suman Rao about the police officials disrupting the celebrations at the insistence of Arun Chakravarthy, IGP (Western Range). On Monday night, he had contacted the IGP and had given directions to ensure the celebrations were not be disrupted.

The minister said Christmas and Uroos celebrations too extend to the early hours. “The incident is a reminder that policing should be tandem with the local culture and tradition,” Khader stressed.

Speaking further, he said, “With elections being scheduled this year, I have urged the police to exempt first-time offenders from their procedures causing harassment and anxiety to family members.”

Referring to an instance, Khader said that a senior citizen who is facing charges under Section 307 of the IPC (Attempt to Murder) is also being harassed. “There are instances where the courts have absolved the accused of all charges, but the police still summon him to the station, take his pictures, thumb imprint and obtain in writing that he would not involve himself in any mischief during elections,” the minister narrated.

“The periodic review of the list of rowdy sheeters is not taking place at many police stations, creating unnecessary problems. I have already discussed the matter with the commissioner of police and will have similar discussions with the superintendent of police,” he added.

Khader also appealed to the police to contact him in case an accused drops his name. The appeal followed an instance where his attention was drawn to a Pocso case registered in Puttur women’s police station. The accused had dropped the minister’s name in order to stall the registration of case.

Khader, responding to MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary’s statement that the Congress was bothered about the well-being of terrorists, questioned why a senior leader like Poojary was afraid of party chief B S Yeddyurappa. “Why does Poojary lack the courage to question Yeddyurappa and make him realise his mistake in making senseless statements,” the minister asked.