Mandya clash: Ex-MLA taken in procession after getting bail

Mandya: Former Congress MLA Rameshbabu, who was arrested on Thursday for assaulting the driver of an earthmover during an encroachment drive at Arakere in Srirangapatna, was released on conditional bail on Friday. He and his supporters turned the occasion into a grand celebration, throwing Covid guidelines to wind, thereby incurring public wrath. Shockingly, though the celebrations took place right in front of the police station, cops remained mute spectators.
Rameshbabu was arrested by Arakere police when he and his supporters attempted to stop a drive by the PWD officials and police personnel to raze illegal structures in the village during road widening work.The situation turned tense after Rameshbabu attacked the driver of the JCB vehicle and assaulted him. He was arrested and produced before the additional district judge.
However, Rameshbabu was granted conditional bail on Friday. After hearing that he would be released, hundreds of his relatives gathered in front of the police station, unmindful of Covid protocol. None of them wore masks. The former MLA was taken out in a procession by his supporters who didn’t care a hoot about social distancing, even as the police personnel, who should have dispersed the crowd and taken swift action against those who were violating Covid guidelines, silently watched the procession.
When questioned, a senior police officer said that he would seek a report from local police about the purported violation of Covid-19 norms and check visual evidences before initiating any action.