Bhatkal: Even five days after Bhatkal violence following the suicide of a vendor at Town Municipal Council (TMC) complex, employees of the TM are not ready to work fearlessly in the office or field.
On Monday, the employees under the banner of Karnataka Rajya Pouraseva Noukarara Seva Sangha submitted a memorandum to the Assistant Commissioner of Bhatkal stating that they do not have any security to work in the office or field and are living under fear.
Fearing that the TMC may vacate his shop, Ramachandra Naik, a vendor at the TMC complex, set himself ablaze on last Thursday. After the incident, vendors and locals staged protest in the town. Some of them also pelted stones at the TMC office and tried to assault the officers and the staff.
After the incident, the TMC workers were on mass leave on Friday and Saturday. On Monday, some of them returned to work and expressed their fear to work in the office. The district administration has deployed police personnel on the TMC office premises for the last five days.
Assistant Commissioner M N Manjunath told reporters, "The TMC employees have asked for security to work in the office. We have already provided police protection to the office."
Officials go on leave:
Venkatesh Naik, brother of Ramachandra Naik who succumbed to burns, had lodged complaint against TMC planning officer R P Naik, chief officer G S Shankarappa, revenue officer Dileep Naik and a bill collector stating that those four persons were the reason for the suicide of his brother. After the complaint, the chief officer, revenue officer and the bill collector have not returned to work and even their mobile phones remain switched off from the last five days.
When asked about the same, Assistant Commissioner M N Manjunath said, "They have called me over the phone and asked for medical leave. Therefore, I have granted medical leave to two officers and the bill collector."
Arrested being questioned:
Bhatkal town police have arrested nine people, who were allegedly involved in Thursday's violence. Bhatkal town PSI said, based on videos and photos taken by the police personnel, they have taken nine people into their custody and are being questioned.