Mysore, July 10 (TNN): Certain unsavory decisions taken by the B S Yediyurappa Government is being balmed for the Mysore city witnessing the alleged communal clashes. When the situation in Mysore remained tense in the aftermath of July 2 communal riots, the State Government has convened a ‘Dasara’ meet at Bangalore on Thursday and summoned all top rank officials in the Police Department and the Ddistrict Administration for the programme.
On Thursday when the ‘Jail Baro’ programme called by the leaders of the Popular Front of India (PFI) turned violent, there was evident miscommunication among the police force. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) have played waiting game, which allowed protestors to go on the rampage.
There was lack of leadership to streamline the striking forces. The City Police Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner were in Bangalore attending the Dasara meet.
Though, the Intelligence wing has cautioned the State Government on the clashes, and the protestors planned transport of crowds from Mangalore, Kerala, Maddikeri and Bangalore for the Jail Baro, no concrete measures have been taken by the State Government to prevent the riots. On top it the Government went ahead with the Dasara meet.
Even on Thursday, the situation was tense since morning when there were sporadic incidents of stone pelting was reported. Six shops on the Ashoka Road were pelted with stones by some youths and a KSRTC bus was also pelted with stones on the Mysore-Bangalore road injuring its driver. But, the Government was reluctant to take serious note of the situation and kept senior officials away from the city.
The result: There was no planning in dealing with protestors, the police were not swift enough initially and kept watching though the protestors were defying the Prohibitory Orders and grew in thousands, instead of using wireless sets, the police were seen verbally communicating and the RAF was summoned only when the situation went out-of-control. None of the top rank officials were available for comments.