Nagamangala violence: Police inspector suspended; situation returning to normality

Nagamangala police inspector suspended for dereliction of duty amid communal violence; situation under control, BJP forms fact-finding committee.

Inspector of the Nagamangala Town Police Station Ashok Kumar has been placed under suspension on the charge of dereliction of duty in the wake of the communal violence that erupted during a procession taken out ahead of the immersion of a Ganesh idol in the town on Wednesday.

Deputy Commissioner of Mandya Kumar, who confirmed the suspension of the police inspector, on Friday said the situation in the town was returning to normality. The situation in Nagamangala town is “normal and under control”, he said. He said schools and colleges functioned normally while shops and business establishments too remained open.

A strong police presence in the town continued as prohibitory orders imposed in the wake of the violence remained in force on Friday.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara, who took to social media platform X to announce the suspension of the police officer on the charge of dereliction of duty, said he had already sought a report on the reasons for the violence in Nagamangala. “Once the report is received, stern action will be taken as per law without any hesitation. Nobody is above law,” he said on X.

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, who visited Nagamangala town on Friday, went around the violence-hit areas to inspect the shops that had been ravaged by the rioters.

Mr. Kumaraswamy told reporters later that the trouble in the town was not only “pre-conceived”, but also “sponsored by the Congress”. He also described it as an “administrative failure” by the Congress government and a “lapse of duty” by the local police.

Claiming that a posse of reserve police force stationed in the region was moved out minutes before the trouble broke out, Mr. Kumaraswamy also raised questions over the absence of the police inspector and the Deputy Superintendent of Police from the spot.