In a significant preventive measure aimed at maintaining public order, the Mangaluru City Police have bound over a total of 895 individuals. The action, led by Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, is designed to preempt potential breaches of peace and curb criminal activities in the coastal city.
Breakdown of Preventive Action
Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy provided a detailed breakdown of the individuals bound over. Out of the 895 people, a substantial 807 are officially listed as rowdy-sheeters. The community-wise data indicates that 521 of those bound over are Hindus, while 351 are Muslims. The legal basis for this large-scale preventive action lies in Sections 126, 127, 128, and 129 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
The police chief's statements came in response to queries raised during a protest by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The group questioned the number of its members bound over compared to individuals associated with the Sangh Parivar. Commissioner Reddy addressed these concerns head-on, asserting that the police operate based on facts and intelligence, not community affiliations.
Police Reject Communal Narrative, Cite Past Precedents
"We have nothing to hide," declared Commissioner Reddy, addressing allegations of partiality. He expressed frustration over what he described as a common tactic in the region: "It has become common in this area to play victim and incite the innocent public through tactful articulation, hiding facts." He emphasized that the police have a legal duty and right to bind over anyone they believe may cause a disturbance or commit an offence, a practice they will continue to follow.
To illustrate the impartial and situational nature of these actions, Reddy cited recent examples. In the past six months, prior to the Sharadotsava procession, individuals from right-wing organizations were bound over. Similarly, ahead of the recent SDPI protest, members of that organization were subjected to the same preventive measure. The sole criterion, according to him, was the anticipation of a potential breach of peace or incidents of hate speech.
Data on Bond Violations and Financial Penalties
The commissioner provided concrete data to underscore the seriousness of these preventive orders. He revealed that this year, 54 persons have violated their bond conditions. The community split of these violators is 39 Hindus and 13 Muslims. The financial consequence of these violations has been significant, with forfeited amounts totaling Rs 10.2 lakh. Proceedings for forfeiture are ongoing in several of these cases.
Reddy also gave specific instances of high-value bonds taken as a precaution. Ahead of the Sharadotsava procession, bonds of Rs 1 lakh each were executed by two persons belonging to the Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). In a parallel move, before the SDPI protest, bonds were taken from two individuals associated with that organization as a precautionary step.
In his concluding remarks, the Police Commissioner urged the public to look at the complete picture. He advised against communalizing public sentiment by presenting partial facts. Instead, he advocated for a coherent understanding of all facts, reinforcing that the Mangaluru Police's primary mandate is to preserve peace and order through legally sanctioned, intelligence-driven preventive actions.
