Belagavi: Director General and Inspector General of Police, Om Prakash said on Monday that he has instructed his officers to release those aged above 65 years and other innocent people if any, arrested during the violence. He also clarified that the police were taking into custody only those who were indulging in violence during the Karnataka bandh against the Mahadayi tribunal’s verdict.

Om Prakash who spoke after reviewing the police passing-out parade at Khanapur, said that people who involved in violence will not be spared. The culprits who were damaging to public property, vehicles, government offices and courts were taken into custody by the police, he said.

He further stated that CCTV footages and videos provided by media are helping the police to identify the miscreants who resorted to violent activities during the bandh. A team comprising senior police officials has been formed to investigate the incidents at the local level, he informed.

Senior officers Kamal Panth, Bhaskar Rao and Raghavendra Auradkar were appointed to kep an eye on Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag district respectively. Ten KSRP platoons for each of the three districts and three platoons of Rapid Action Force are deployed in the areas.