Kasaragod: Binoy Viswam, CPI's Rajya Sabha MP from Kerala, who was detained by the Karnataka Police for taking part in a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Mangaluru, has been let off. The Mangaluru police took him to the Manjeswaram police station in Kerala's Kasaragod district by Saturday evening.
He was detained after he took part in a demonstration before the Mahatma Gandhi statue in front of the City Corporation office, violating prohibitory orders, on Saturday. The protesters raised 'Save India, Save Democracy' slogans and criticised the Yediyurappa government for its actions against those protesting against the new law.
The police have also taken CPI's Karnataka state secretary and 10 party workers into custody. They have been moved to the Barke police station.
Binoy Viswam alleged that the police used force while detaining him.
Border curbs
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Police continued to impose restrictions along the state border to prevent the entry of vehicles from Kerala.
Cars and two-wheelers are allowed to pass through after strict checks. Big cargo vehicles are being stopped at Thalappady in Kasaragod on the Kerala side.
Buses from Kerala are also curtailing services at the border. However, there is no restriction on the movement of vehicles from Karnataka to Kerala.
Security restrictions were imposed after two people were killed in police firing in Mangaluru on Thursday. On Friday, the police had detained a Malayali media group that had arrived in Mangaluru for reporting.
Curfew has been clamped and internet suspended in Uduppi and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka.
Situation in Mangaluru was said to be calm on Saturday.
The Kerala government has initiated steps to bring back Keralite students, who have been stranded in Mangaluru. Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses have been sent to the neighbouring state to bring back the students safely.
No entry for Siddaramaiah
Meanwhile, police have restricted the entry of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the city during the period when curfew is in place.
City police commissioner P S Harsha has served notice on Siddaramaiah restraining the latter from entering the city limits till Sunday midnight, police said.
The notice bars Siddaramaiah from flying into the city from Bengaluru, Hubballi, Mysuru, and Goa airports.
His entry through road, rail, and air has also been barred.
The notice also mentions that no one can facilitate his travel into the city.
A delegation of senior Congress leaders who landed in Mangaluru to meet those injured and bereaved families of the two deceased on Friday were denied permission and detained at the airport here.
The delegation included Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council S R Patil, former Home Minister and MLA M B Patil, former Speaker and MLA K R Ramesh Kumar and former MP V S Ugrappa.
Siddaramaiah also had to cancel his trip to Mangaluru from Bengaluru on getting information that the chartered aircraft he was to take was denied permission to land at the airport.
Curfew is in place within the city commissionerate till Sunday midnight in view of protests held on Thursday turning violent, resulting in the death of two persons in police firing. Harsha said the notice has been issued as per the instructions from Bengaluru international airport authorities.
