The names of two police personnel of Vittla PS of the district have been recommended for the Ashoka Chakra gallantry award for their exemplary act of courage, dedication for duty and presence of mind. Details are as under;
An incident of rioting was reported from Vittla PS limits wherein on 24/09/2005 at 1645 hrs at Kanthadka village in Vittla Kasaba about 10-15 persons formed themselves into an unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapons, trespassed into the house of one Smt Kathyayini by forcibly break opening the front door. There upon they searched the whole house and assaulted the younger brother of Kathyayini one Sadashiva Rao and also attempted to outrage the modesty of one Kumari Ganga. Sadashiv Rao working in Bangalore had brought the girl Kum Ganga to Vittla with the intention of marrying her. The accused persons (belonging to another community) suspected that the girl Ganga belongs to their community and hence had attacked the house of Kathyayini. After confirming that the girl belongs to the other community, they withdrew from the house. In this connection, a case in Vittla PS was registered on the complaint of Smt Kathyayini and investigation taken up. Further as the incident had occurred between two different communities, suitable police security measures were taken at the spot to avert any possible escalation of violence in the locality. CHC 403 Vasudeva Bhandary and CPC Seetharama P.K. of Vittla PS were deployed at the house of Smt Kathyayini for providing proper protection to the family.
On the morning of 25/09/2005 at about 0630 hrs, these two policemen who were on duty at the spot heard some loud sound from the direction of the arecanut garden of the complainant. Both of them immediately rushed to the spot and found Sadashiva Rao and Kum Ganga inside the water tank in an unconscious state. On seeing this CPC 1749 Seetharama immediately jumped into the water tank and with the help of CHC 403 Vasudeva Bhandary both of them from the tank. Further they provided first aid treatment to both of them and shifted them to the hospital by calling the ambulance. Later both Sadashiva Rao and Ganga recovered at the hospital. Their questioning at the hospital revealed that unable to bear the humiliation suffered at the hands of the accused persons, they had attempted to commit suicide by jumping into the water tank on that morning after consuming poison. Thus a suo moto case in Vittla PS Cr No101/05 u/s 309 IPC was taken up for willfully attempting to end their life.
Thus the timely and courageous act of both these policemen not only saved two valuable lives but also helped in preventing a serious law and order problem in the area. Had the boy and the girl succeeded in ending their lives, this would have enraged the locals of their community and there was every possibility of serious communal disturbance in the area.
This timely and courageous act of theirs, sense of dedication, fearlessness, presence of mind, alertness and above all the humanitarian approach was felt to be appreciated and recognized by honouring them with Ashoka Chakra medal for gallantry and thus have both been recommended by Dakshina Kannada Police for the Award.
The proposal in this regard has been been initiated by the Supdt of Police D K District and sent to the state Director General and Inspector General of Police from where it has to go to the Union Home ministry through the State Govt.
