Inquiry, a daunting task for cops

MANGALORE: The police’s internal security wing, entrusted with the responsibility of heading an inquiry and establishing the circumstances that led to the death of police constable M S Mane, by DGP and IGP Neelam Achuta Rao faces a daunting task.Rao had informed media persons on Sunday that police department other than the ANF would also assist internal security department officials in the enquiry.Meanwhile, disturbing questions are being raised about the encounter.The near absence of uniformity about the encounter within the police department has only reinforced the suspicions. Alok Mohan informed that ANF ambushed naxalites, who fired in retaliation killing Mane.But colleagues of the deceased constable told media that naxalites fired first at ANF. Another ANF personnel claimed powerful lights blinded their vision.A constable Ramesh H C attached to ANF claims identifying Vikram Gowda, Sundari, Vijaya and Keerthi from among the 15 naxalites that had crossed their path on the fateful night.Vijaya and Keerthi are a new find as their names do not figure even in the list of “most wanted naxalites”. Most importantly, the locals vouched that a further 3 km away from the spot of encounter, big cats prowl.Sushila, a resident, says their dog was mauled to death by a leopard a month ago and their neighbour’s cattle never returned to the shed. Their children also vouched on witnessing leopards as early as at 4 pm.According to her, staying in the forest at night is a remote possibility. Susheela says she never saw a naxalite in her backyard.