‘Made him scapegoat’: Karnataka cops, home min deny suicide attempt by suspended Ballari SP; opposition slams govt | Bengaluru News

BENGALURU: Senior Karnataka police officials on Saturday strongly denied unconfirmed reports that Pavan Nejjur had attempted suicide following his suspension as Ballari SP over alleged dereliction of duty after clashes between rival political groups in the district on Thursday left a Congress worker dead.Responding to queries from the media, home minister G Parameshwara, too, brushed away talk of a suicide attempt by Nejjur, saying: “After hearing the news (of the alleged suicide attempt), I called a senior IPS officer. He confirmed Pavan was fine. He could have been in depression due to his suspension and other issues, but otherwise he’s fine.” “This is merely a rumour. Pavan Nejjur is currently resting at our batchmate’s farmhouse in Baragur village of Tumakuru district,” Mandya SP Dr Shobharani VJ said. Dr Shobharani, who was earlier posted as Ballari SP, told the media: “I have spoken to him. Therefore, please do not believe in or propagate these rumours.”Ravikante Gowda, IGP, Eastern Range, Davanagere, also dismissed reports of a suicide attempt. He said due to stress, Nejjur was used to consuming pills to induce deep sleep, not to end his life. Gowda added the officer was staying with his family at a friend’s farmhouse and was stable.Earlier in the day, police sources close to the deposed SP and leaders of the opposition BJP claimed Nejjur had attempted suicide. There has, however, been no official statement from Nejjur’s family.Preliminary accounts from officers who had worked with Nejjur suggested he had consumed sleeping pills at a friend’s farmhouse in Baraguru village and was admitted to hospital. Sources said Nejjur was distressed that the govt acted against him barely 24 hours after he took charge as Ballari SP — his first executive posting after 11 years in the police department.Nejjur was suspended on Friday, a day after supporters of BJP MLA G Janardhan Reddy and Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy were involved in a violent clash in Ballari, resulting in the death of a Congress worker. The state govt cited Nejjur’s failure to addres the volatile situation and restore law and order.Accusing the Congress govt of creating a “murderous” environment for govt officials and making Nejjur a scapegoat for the Ballari violence, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said: “The SP had taken charge barely two hours before the incident occurred. It takes at least 15 to 20 days to understand a new district, but the govt made him the scapegoat.”Drawing a parallel with the suspension of Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayanand following the stampede during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations that claimed 11 lives, Ashoka said selective action was being taken. “If the SP could be suspended within two hours, then the home minister (G Parameshwara), who has been in office for more than two-and-a-half years, and Ballari district in-charge minister B Z Zameer Ahmad Khan should also be suspended,” he said.Ashoka further alleged that pressure from the govt was driving officials to suicide. “Twelve police officers have committed suicide. This is a government that delivers a ‘suicide guarantee’ to officials,” he charged.Commenting on Thursday’s violence, Ashoka claimed: “The gunshots were fired by Congress workers, and they killed their own party worker in the melee, though they had planned to kill Janardhana Reddy. What can an SP do when he hardly knows the district?” He also alleged a sharp deterioration in law and order in Karnataka since the Congress-led govt assumed office.