Mangalore Firing : Karnataka HC Issues Notice On PIL For Judicial Inquiry

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the state government on a PIL seeking  a judicial inquiry by a sitting/retired judge of the High Court into the incident of violence and excessive use of force by the police, leading to the killing of two civilians and injuring seven others, at Mangalore during an Anti Citizenship Amendment Act.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Hemant Chandangoudar issued the notice while hearing a petition filed byI K Mohammed Iqbal Elimale and B Ummer. The plea filed through Advocate Prince Isac, seeks for issuance of appropriate order calling for records of the state government and Director general of police pertaining to entire police action. It also seeks for direction to register First Information Reports (FIR) and investigations against Mangalore Police Commissioner, Dr Harsha who allegedly ordered the firing.

The petition relies on media reports about the alleged incident of firing by Mangalore police against the anti CAA protestors on December 19, 2019.

Further it is said that widow of deceased Abdul Jaleel has filled complaint before the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission, but not action had been taken. It is also said that there was no circumstances of an imminent threat in the instant case for the police to indiscriminately open fire at the gathering of the people who were protesting in a peaceful manner.

"The police force headed by the police commissioner have violated all principles of human rights, rules and regulations of Karnataka police manual, basic principles on the user of force and firearms by law enforcement officials. They have violated the Right to Life Guaranteed under the Constitution Of India", the petition said.