Mangaluru violence: HC says police tried to cover up excesses

Mangaluru/Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court stated that there was a deliberate attempt to cover up police excess by trumping up charges against innocent people while granting bail to 21 people arrested in connection with the violence that erupted in Mangaluru during a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in the district.

Justice John Michael Cunha passed the order while hearing the petitions filed by Mohammed Ashik and 20 others from Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka.

“The records indicate that a deliberate attempt has been made to fabricate evidence and to deprive the petitioners of their liberties. Any criminal antecedents of the petitioners are not disputed… There is no direct evidence to connect the petitioners with the alleged offences. The investigation appears to be mala fide and partisan,” the court observed as per The Hindu.