Somashekhara Commission hopes to complete inquiry by month end

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 10, 2010: The Justice B. K. Somashekhara Commission of Inquiry, which has been constituted by the state government to probe the church attacks of 2008, might complete examining witnesses by the end of this month, since its extended term expires on July 31.

 

M. Vidyashankar, the secretary of the commission, informed reporters of Hindu that any extra time required by the commission to complete its inquiry will be assessed after the judicial sittings.

When the commission’s term was extended previously, a controversy had developed with government officials demanding that the commission should not be given additional time because it has made its interim report public. However, the government had granted the commission three more months to complete its inquiry.

The commission has mentioned on its official website that it will conduct sittings in the Mangalore Circuit House on July 15 - 16 and at Balabrooie Guesthouse in Bangalore on July 19 - 21.

Mr. Vidyashankar said 23 more witnesses will be examined during its sittings in Mangalore. The key witnesses, who are N. Sathish Kumar, the former superintendent of police in Dakshina Kannada; Dharmaiah, the former deputy superintendent of police; and Mahendra Kumar, leader of Bajrang Dal, will be examined in Bangalore.