In a first, MCC Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati given gunman protection

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 06, 2015: In a first in the history of the Mangaluru City Corporation, its Commissioner has been provided a gunman protection.

MCC Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati now  has a gunman for her security  as per a request placed by her before the Mangaluru City Police Commissioner  S Murugan on April 22.

Here it is worth mentioning that the Commissioner whose  appointment   came after repeated requests to fill the post which remained vacant for six long months, has been in the eye of the storm since some time after corporators cutting across party lines made a vehement demand for her transfer. Their grouse was that the Commissioner was ‘high-handed’ and that she never allowed them to meet her without prior appointment.

The Corporators had even raised the issue with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his recent visit to the city but the CM had reportedly refused to heed to their demand.

On the other hand,  the Commissioner in her defence had accused the corporators of non-co-operation in carrying out developmental works.

Mixed reactions : The gunman protection provided to the Commissioner has drawn mixed reactions. If BJP Corporator Sudhir  termed it “unfortunate”  to know that the Commissioner feels she was threatened,  Hanumanth Kamath of Nagarika Hitharakshana Samithi  defended the Commissioner and said “The Commissioner might have sought security owing to the pressure on her.” He also claimed that the Commissioner discharged her duties as per the law.

At the same time, he said “To know that an efficient officer is forced to have gunman protection is a shame for the city.”

Commissioner Clarifies : In the meantime, Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati while speaking at the MCC meeting on Wednesday has made it clear that she had no threat to life.

“There are no threats. But I thought I need to have a gunman and requested the Police Commissioner for the same.”

When insisted to know the reason, the Commissioner said “A boys’ hostel is located next to my house and therefore the compound wall has been raised. Now  with a gun man protection, I feel safe both at home and office.”