Despite threats and pressure, 1000s rally as PFI takes out massive rally in Mangalore to protest Police brutality.

Mangalore | Talha Gulbargavi : Popular Front of India (PFI) activists staged a massive protest ‘SP office Chalo’ right here at Clock Tower on Friday December 17, condemning the police brutality by the Uppinangady police station staff for resorting to lathi-charge against a non violent protest at Uppinangady police station. The protestors additionally demanded the release of innocent activists who’re in police custody. the massive turnout put police under pressure as the the Rally was taken out despite the threats and warnings from sangh parivar groups.

The protestors shouted slogans against the police atrocities on PFI activists on the Uppinangady police station and demanded their release. The protesters tried to march in a rally to the SP office, however as the Police commissioner Shashi Kumar accepted the protesters demand to go to the a protest site close to the Mini Vidhana. The protesters marched in a rally from the Hampankatta circle to the Clock Tower. The protesters additionally demanded that the IGP and the SP should come to the protest spot to receive the memorandum. The protesters also stated that they will hold their protest till the SP and IGP come to the spot to accept their memorandum.

Maulana Athoor Thangal whose bloodied pic with his forehead smashed by the police went viral yesterday, was present in the protest. He was advised by the State SDPI leaders to rest, but he insisted to attend the event. His presence galvanised the protesters and they shouted heavy slogans in the protest decrying police violence. The Presence of Maulana Athoor was even praised by PFI National Chief OMA Salam, whose emotional tweet was retweeted multiple times.

Addressing the protesters SDPI leader Shafi Bellare stated, “Today we’re here to call for justice. In Uppinangandy, the police requestsed the PFI leaders to come to the police station and arrested them, the police demanded the leaders bring the accused for their release. If we have to produce the accused to the police then what’s the responsibility of the police? Many people ask why does the PFI protest in opposition to the police? We aren’t in opposition to the Police however we’re in opposition to the saffron mind-set of a section of the police. When there has been communal violence, the police had been arresting the relatives of PFI workers. The police inspector of Uppinangady keep saying that their lathis and pistol don’t have any religion, however what he speaks isn’t always his actions”.

Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar IPS and SP of DK Sonawane Rishikesh Bhagawan arrived on the spot of the protest and recieved a memorandum from PFI leaders.

Shafi Bellare further said, “Police lathis and pistols should not have religion, caste or politics, but if we see the atrocities by the police on a particular community, how can we believe the police. When a person had threatened a police inspector, why didn’t the police take any action?. Recently Hindu outfits had distributed Trishuls and after that, there were attacks with the Trishul, what action did the police take? One organization has now distributed Trishuls and tomorrow if another organization will distribute knives what will happen to society? Why is the police department not taking action against such organizations when they distribute weapons?”

Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar talking at the protest said, “The PFI leaders had come to me looking for permission to hold a protest rally however we approved them to hold a protest, and you’ve done accordingly. Your call is for for the SP to come the spot, and shortly the SP will come to the spot. You have maintained peace in the course of the protest, and i request you to keep peace even as going back home”. After receiving the memorandum SP of DK Sonawane Rishikesh Bhagawan assured to investigate the matter and do the needful.