Mangaluru: City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy CH has defended the police response to a protest outside St Agnes College over examinations held during Dasara, stating that patriotic slogans cannot exempt anyone from legal action for offences or disturbances to public peace.

His remarks came in response to a social media post by Kudla Trolls questioning why police objected to protesters raising “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, whether Mangaluru was in India or Pakistan, and why those detained were asked to execute bonds.

Reddy said police personnel were proud citizens committed to serving and protecting the country. However, he maintained that raising patriotic slogans could not justify unlawful conduct.

“No one can claim immunity from legal action by shouting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ if they have committed an offence or disturbed public peace,” he said.

Using patriotic slogans to deflect attention from wrongdoing did not serve the nation, the commissioner added, urging people to reflect on whether their actions upheld the values and principles associated with patriotism.

Explaining the police response to the protest over examinations scheduled during Dasara, Reddy said the department had not denied permission for demonstrations but imposed conditions whenever there was a possibility of a breach of peace.

In this instance, however, the organisers had neither sought permission nor informed the police about the protest, he said.

According to Reddy, police did not take action against the college students and instead facilitated their demonstration. Those from outside the college who attempted to enter the campus were stopped, as the institution could have filed a trespass complaint against them, he added.

The commissioner said police initially considered obtaining bonds from those taken into custody to deter similar incidents in the future. However, taking into account their status as students and their request for leniency, the police decided not to insist on the bonds.

Reddy alleged that some protesters returned to the college in the afternoon and attempted to provoke students even after the management had accepted their demands. They were taken into custody again and subsequently released, he said.