IAS officer's death;protests continue for 6th day for CBI probe

Bengaluru, Mar 22: Protests continued for the sixth consecutive day in different parts of Karnataka today demanding a CBI probe into the mysterious death of an IAS officer, as the state government is all set to make its stand known in the Assembly tomorrow.

Sustaining the pressure on the government, Opposition BJP held a day-long dharna here that was attended by party’s national Vice President and former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Union Minister Ananth Kumar, State President Prahlad Joshi, Opposition Leader Jagdish Shettar and others.

People from different walks of life here also staged a separate protest demanding justice for 35-year-old D K Ravi who was found dead in his apartment under mysterious circumstances. Police said prima facie it was a case of suicide which has been vehemently contested by his family and others.

Protests were also held by various organisations in Tumakuru, Ravi's nativ district, and Kolar, where he had become very popular as Deputy Commissioner, among other places.

Shettar said, "We have already stalled the proceedings in both Assembly and Council; if the Chief Minister doesn't announce a CBI inquiry (tomorrow) we will continue stalling the entire proceedings."

He said, "we have already declared that from March 24 we will start a padyatra from Ravi's village (to Bengaluru), so our agitation will continue and we will continue to stall the proceedings of the House until they order a CBI inquiry."

Shettar alleged that Siddaramaiah is hesitant to hand over the case to CBI with an intention to protect "vested interests."

Stating that the opposition would withdraw its protest only after government announces a CBI probe, Deputy Leader of opposition R Ashok said, "we will not accept anything on the CID inquiry; we are not ready to hear about it."

There has been a clamour for CBI probe from Opposition parties and the family of Ravi, who was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his flat on March 16. The state government has handed over the probe to CID.

PTI