Make public report on violent incidents in Mahadayi stir: BJP

: Demanding immediate release of "innocents" booked after violent protests that rocked northern parts of Karnataka in July, against a tribunal's interim order rejecting its claim of water from the inter-state Mahadayi river, Opposition BJP today demanded that the inquiry report by two senior officials into the incident be made public.

"Innocents are still under arrest. Make the report by Auradkar (Raghavendra Auradkar) and Kamal Pant public. Let us know what their reports say about the arrests and police lathi charges on women and elderly," Opposition Leader Jagadish Shettar said in the Assembly.

Questioning the delay in release of innocents, he said "government should have the will."
 

Shettar was intervening while Home Minister G Parameshwara was replying to a query during question hour on the arrests made following the Mahadayi protest.

Tension had gripped most parts of northern Karnataka like Gadag, Hubballi, Dharwad, Davangere, Bagalkote and other places as the protest had turned violent on July 28 during which government offices had come under attack and damage was caused to public property.

About 82 cases have been booked following the violent protest against the rejection of Karnataka's plea for release of 7.56 tmcft for drinking water projects.

A team, headed by Additional Director General of Police Raghavendra Auradkar and Director of Prosecution, was formed to look into the authenticity of the cases, while ADGP Kamal Pant was appointed by the government to probe into the alleged police excesses during the protests.

Stating that government will withdraw cases against farmers and innocents after considering all the cases, Parameshwara in his reply said there is no pardon to those involved in causing destruction to 12 government offices,court and public property and also those who attacked police personnel.

He said "it is our commitment and we will do it. Due process in this regard is being followed, charge sheet has been filed and we will consider every case. At the earliest we will withdraw cases against those who were not involved in any kind of mischief," he added.