Bangalore :The High Court on Wednesday directed the state Home department to initiate action against Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada district and police officials of Belthangdy for their inaction against a history-sheeter who had vandalised a private property with an intention to encroach upon it.

Hearing a petition by Shashikala J Shetty and residents of Ujire in Belthangdy taluk, Justice S V Sathyanarayana made this order.

The petitioners had moved the court stating that Mahesh Shetty Thimrodi, a history-sheeter, had vandalised their property belonging on May 9 and constructed a temple thereover. They had alleged that neither the Belthangady police nor the superintendent of police took any action on their complaint.

Lashing out at the police for their inaction, Justice Satyanarayana said that if the police cannot protect people, they have no right to continue. Thus directed the Home department to initiate serious action against the SP of Dakshina Kannada, circle inspector and station house officer of Belthangady police station.