Traffic cop demands removal of stickers from car, Hindu activists allege religious bias

Mangaluru: Activists of the Hindutva organization and BJP Mangaluru Mandal president expressed outrage over Naguri traffic police personnel demanding the removal of stickers, associated with religious feelings from car’s rear windshield and number plate here on August 31.

The incident took place near the Thokottu flyover, when Naguri traffic police assistant sub-inspector, Albert Lasrado allegedly stopped a car for routine checking and questioned about the stickers on the car number plate and the rear windshield stating that it was not permitted as per law.

The cop allegedly demanded payment of fines and asked the car driver, Babish Poojary to remove the stickers. Poojary however refused to do so citing that these stickers — ‘Om Sai’, ‘Swami Koragajja’, ‘Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah’ — were associated with religious feelings. He even contacted Activists of the Hindutva organization and BJP Mandal president who arrived at the spot and expressed rage over the cop’s behaviour.

Alleging that the assistant sub-inspector was religiously biased, the activists demanded that he should not be put on duty and necessary action be taken against him.