Copyright thehindu
Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Hitendra R. on Saturday visited a private hospital in Belagavi to enquire about the health of police personnel who were injured in the stone-pelting incident near Hattaragi toll booth in Hukkeri taluk of Belagavi district during the protest by sugarcane farmers on Friday. Speaking to presspersons later, Mr. Hitendra said that 11 police personnel suffered injuries. Despite various measures to prevent any untoward incident during the farmers’ protest, it had happened and he had rushed to oversee the situation and enquire about the health of the personnel. He said that they were scrutinising the surveillance footage and already a case had been registered at Yamakanamaradi police station. Replying to a query, the ADGP clarified that there were no instructions to cane the protesting farmers and efforts were only made to control the swollen mob. “We are also looking at the possibility of acts of miscreants. Everything is being scrutinised,” he said. He said that around four State transport buses and several police vehicles had been damaged during the incident. He further clarified that so far no arrests had been made and they would take action after verifying various other video clips. Mr. Hitendra was accompanied by Northern Range IGP Chetan Singh Rathore, Belagavi Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase, and Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar Guled during the visit to the hospital.
