Kalaburagi: Three days after the ugly stand-off between Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and the protesting temporary staff of the Yeramarus Thermal Power Station (YTPS) in Raichur, the district superintendent of police, Dr C B Vedamurthy, suspended two police officers for lapses in security at the spot, on Saturday.
Cases have also been registered against 50 of the protesting employees of the power station.
The suspension of rural PSI Ningappa and Yeragera police inspector Dattatreya was met with protests by members of the Madiga Jagruti Sene, who said the two officers were known for their efficiency and honesty. “These officers have been suspended without valid grounds,” the Sene alleged.
It was during Mr Kumaraswamy’s Gama Vastavya programme at Manvi that the protesting YTPS employees blocked his car , demanding among other things their reinstatement by the company. In response, the Chief Minister shouted at them to go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi whom they had voted for in the recent Lok Sabha election. Although he was strongly criticised by the BJP for the incident, Mr Kumaraswamy was unapologetic and is said to have complained to the police about the security arrangements made at the power station.
Besides suspending the police officers, Dr Vedamurthy said in a statement that cases were registered against 50 of he protesting employees including TUCI state president, R Manasayya and, secretary, J Amaresh, for illegally gathering and blocking the road on June 26 near Yeramarus Circuit House when Mr Kumaraswamy was on his way to Karegudda village.
