Mangaluru : A video of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel questioning police for detaining the BJP workers—who had come to take part in Mangaluru Chalo and were kept in a hall—went viral on Thursday.

It was in connection with releasing the BJP workers, who took part in the meeting, taken into custody.

It showed the MP “threatening” the police inspector that he (Mr. Kateel) would call for a bandh if the release of workers were delayed and the inspector’s action would be made a reason for the bandh.

Replying the act Mr. Kateel told to media that he went to the convention hall near Kadri Park around 3 p.m. after learning that the workers, including women, had been kept there for three hours without food and water.

The police inspector told him that the activists would be released after the arrest formalities were completed.

“Even after the formalities were completed, Mr. Nayak refused to release them and said that he needed orders from the Police Commissioner to release them. This angered me and I took him to task,” he said.

Denying allegations that he tried snatching Mr. Nayak’s mobile phone, Mr. Kateel said: “As Police Commissioner (T.R. Suresh) did not answer my phone call, I asked him to call the Police Commissioner on his mobile phone,” the MP said.

[Police Commissioner] Mr. Suresh said that the delay in releasing the activists was because of the time taken to complete the arrest formalities.

“The crowd in the city disbursed only around 2.30 p.m. and then the inspector rushed to the hall to complete the formalities,” he said.

When Mr. Kateel arrived at the hall, the formalities involving 15 persons were pending, while those of 50 had been completed, he said.

Meanwhile, Democratic Youth Federation of India State president Muneer Katipalla alleged that the BJP activists who marched from Jyothi Circle to the office of the Deputy Commissioner tore apart banners and a flex related to paying homage to journalist Gauri Lankesh and DYFI State convention scheduled in the city later this month.

Mr. Katipalla said that the BJP activists have damaged 17 banners and a flex installed between Hampankatta and A.B. Shetty Circle.