Mangaluru: City police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH said patriotic slogans could not shield people from legal action after a social media post questioned police action against protesters who raised “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.Kudla Trolls had asked why police took offence to the slogan, whether Mangaluru was in India or Pakistan, and why protesters were required to execute bonds.Reddy said police were proud sons and daughters of Bharat Mata who had joined the force to serve and protect the nation. “No one can claim immunity from legal action by shouting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ if they have committed an offence or disturbed public peace. Using patriotic slogans to divert attention from one’s wrongful actions does not serve the nation. Instead, one should introspect on whether one’s actions uphold the values and principles that make Bharat Mata proud,” he added.Addressing the recent protest outside St Agnes College over examinations being conducted during Dasara, Reddy said police had never denied permission to protest but imposed conditions when they apprehended a breach of peace. In this case, neither was permission sought nor were police informed, he said.Police took no action against college students and facilitated their protest, Reddy said. However, outsiders who tried to enter the campus were restrained as they could have faced a trespass complaint from the college.Police initially intended to obtain bonds from those taken into custody to prevent a recurrence. However, they did not seek the bonds and took a lenient view at the protesters’ request because they were students, he said. The protesters returned in the afternoon and tried to incite students despite the college accepting their demands. They were again taken into custody and later released, Reddy said.
