RESIDENTS GHERAO POLICE , DEMAND SUSPENSION;

Residents of Mekeri gheraoed police and demanded suspension of a constable Hamidh, who they claim caused sucide of an innocent.

The residents today gathered in large number at Mekeri near Madikeri as a resident , driver B.R.Narayana hung himself from a tree and a left a note to police stating that he is innocent and he has no hand in the brutal murder of Ganesh, occurred recently at Mekeri.

Narayan and the murdered Ganesh were working together in a ginger field for fifteen days and were found together in an arrack shop on the day of the murder, last week. Hence police picked him for interrogation. The villagers and the son of Narayan told today that Narayan was crying and complaining that he can not walk after the police beat him. They stated that Narayan had left a four paged letter about police atrocity, accusing Hamidh. But the same was today removed by Hamidh and he handed over a different letter with safe contents to police officers, they claimed.

DySP Mr.Naik and CI Mr.Sundaraj had a tough time convincing the people. Protest was withdrawn after the officers assured action against Hamidh and asked the residents to lodge a complaint. Villagers urged immediate suspension of Hamidh and not to harass innocents in the name of investigation. Ladies who gathered in large number accused that only innocent people are being interrogated while people to whose houses the sniffer dogs went were not interrogated.

However police inspector Mr.Sundar raj told this correspondent that Narayan was not tortured. He was released on Saturday itself and he would not have waited till Tuesday to commit suicide, if it is for the same reason. He said that three teams are formed to probe the brutal murder and about twelve persons were interrogated in this connection.

Deceased Narayan leaves wife and two children. His wife had left him with her daughter five months ago as he was allegedly beating her in drunken state. The fifteen year old son managed the funeral of his father with tears rolling down his cheeks, all the time.

The investigation is on.

NATURE CLUB BY SCOUTS AND GUIDES;

Commissioner of Kodagu scouts and guides, Mr.Baby Mathew told that a nature club will be launched to improve social responsibilities.

He said that people from the age group of twenty to forty are eligible to become members. Mr.baby Mathew also said that Scouts and guides representatives from Kodagu took part in a conference held at Korea. Four others from here received presidents medal, all adding to the feather of Kodagu, he explained.