Women catch matka bookie in Guttal, PSI suspended

Pic: Deputy speaker and MLA Rudrappa Lamani speaks to women in Guttal town of Haveri taluk recentlyHaveri: The PSI of Guttal police station in Haveri district was suspended on charges of negligence after local women pressured the local MLA and deputy speaker to take on police duties themselves. The disciplinary action was taken by BR Ravikanthe Gowda, IGP of the Davanagere Eastern Range.The action followed an incident in Guttal town when Rudrappa Lamani, the deputy speaker of the legislative assembly, visited his constituency for the inauguration of various development projects. During the visit, local residents approached the MLA with complaints about rampant matka gambling in the town.They told him, "Matka gambling is happening day and night in the town, pushing hundreds of poor families onto the streets. Complaints to the police were futile."Meanwhile, Lamani tried to convince the women and said there was no matka menace in the constituency. The women brought him directly to the matka bookie while he practised illegal gambling. Residents pointed out a matka den and caught a bookie red-handed writing matka slips, then handed him over to the police, leaving onlookers astonished.The incident was widely discussed by the local legislator, Rudrappa Lamani, the police department, and the public, who asked, "What are the police doing? How can they ignore illegal activities happening right under their noses?" Some citizens asked the local MLA about controlling the police.It was initially evident that PSI Basangouda Biradar of the Guttal station failed to prevent illegal activities in his jurisdiction and was negligent in his duties. IGP BR Ravikanthe Gowda immediately ordered the suspension of PSI Basangouda Biradar, citing the seriousness of the incident.