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Mangaluru: The Bellare police have taken into custody a forest official following complaints of making obscene and defamatory remarks about women of the Billava community. The police are investigating the case.
Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) members, in its complaint, had accused Sanjeeva Kaniyoor, a forest official attached to the Mangaluru Forest Division, of making derogatory remarks. An audio recording of Sanjeeva Kaniyoor allegedly making derogatory comments, character-assassinating Billava women, and falsely accusing Hindu youths of using Hindu women immorally under the guise of religious activities has been circulating on social media.
In fact, members of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike staged a protest in front of the Deputy SP's office in Puttur, demanding the arrest of Sanjeeva under stringent sections for allegedly making derogatory remarks about women of a particular community and continuously insulting girls engaged in bhajans.
Samitraj, co-convener of the Mangaluru rural division of Hindu Jagarana Vedike, warned that if the police show negligence in this matter, they will be responsible for any untoward incidents that may occur in the future.
Deputy SP Arun Nagegowda assured the protesters that a case has been registered against Sanjeeva. The protest was withdrawn following an assurance that the official will be arrested.
State BJP general secretary demands dismissal of under fire forest official
Meanwhile, state BJP general secretary and Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar has demanded the dismissal of the forest official from service for making derogatory remarks.
In his appeal to Forest Minister Ehwar Khandre, Sunil Kumar stated that it is a disgrace to civil society when an officer violates government service rules and speaks disparagingly about a community, organisation, and women. Just filing an FIR is not sufficient.
He stressed that the officer's behaviour cannot be forgiven. Therefore, he insisted that the officer should be dismissed from service.