BANGALORE: P Y Gadag, divisional work superintendent of KSRTC, Haveri depot, on Monday admitted before the Justice Jaganath Shetty Judicial Commission that miscreants who indulged in the rioting at Haveri did not appear to be farmers and their violent agitation was not due to scarcity of fertilisers.
When examined by Commission advocate B M Adiga, Gadag said the miscreants did not heed the police warning and rained stones on the KSRP van, which was halted at Siddappa Circle. “When they attempted to torch the KSRP van, police lobbed tear gas through the window of the KSRP van. But the mob did not disperse and they again started pelting stones at the van, breaking the windshield.
The miscreants were in their teens and did not appear to be farmers,” Gadag deposed before the Commission.
When cross examined by Sitharama Shetty, advocate appearing for the police, Gadag admitted that it was inevitable for the police to open fire on a mob to save their lives. “If they had not acted, their lives would have been in danger,” Gadag opined.
B S Channappa Gowder, KSRTC depot manager of Haveri also deposed before the Commission. The Commission adjourned its hearing to Tuesday.