Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi has said that the firing incident at Tadasinakoppa near Dharwad was an indication of the deteriorating law and order situation in the twin cities.

Speaking to presspersons on Saturday after enquiring about the health of the youth injured in the firing incident at a private hospital in Dharwad, Mr. Joshi said that the law and order situation was at its worst now.

“The person who fired in Tadasinakoppa has cheated farmers in Bidnal and Gamanagatti. It is not yet clear whether the shot was fired from a licensed arm and the one who fired has not been arrested yet. The police are still in the process of gathering information on the gun licence even after four days of after the incident. The developments indicate involvement of the police in the case,” he said.

Mr. Joshi said that the prime accused, Sundar Pal, had several cases against him and despite many complaints, the accused had not been arrested. “It appears that high level officials are involved in the case. I have information that the police themselves have thrown out people who had gone to file complaint,” he alleged.

The Union Minister lambasted the Police Department saying that it was only after reports appeared in media that the police included the name of the prime accused in the FIR. The whole development exposed the kind of corruption in the Police Department, he said.

Earlier, Mr. Joshi enquired about the health of Vittal Walikar who has suffered injury in the firing incident and presently recuperating at a private hospital in Dharwad. Taking exception to the absence of the Police Commissioner at the hospital despite knowing about his (Joshi) visit, Mr. Joshi took to task the police officials present at the hospital.