Police callous to threats on my life

TIRUNELVELI: The Director (in-charge) of Distance and Continuing Education in Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, R Ramesh,  has alleged that though he had asked for police protection as he was receiving death threats, no protection had been provided.Ramesh had lodged a complaint with Tirunelveli City Police Commissioner V Varadaraju and Tirunelveli Town Assistant Commissioner (Law and Order) Stalin on August 9, stating that after he had taken charge as the Director (in-charge) of Distance and Continuing Education at Manonmaniam University, Tirunelveli, he was asked to discuss the alleged irregularities in the B Ed (distance mode) course with Secretaries of Department of Law and Higher Education on July 7 in Chennai.These alleged irregularities were then published in the media, following which he had continuously been threatened by some unidentified persons over phone.Ramesh sought police action to nab those threatening him, besides providing security to him.University sources said despite his complaint, the Tirunelveli City Police had failed to take any action.They also suspected it to be the handiwork of some influential persons and added that the police did not understand the gravity of the problem.  Ramesh told Express that after his complaint, an Inspector from Pettai Police Station came for an inquiry only after three days.  On August 14, he again received a threat call on his official mobile.  Ramesh immediately contacted the police, but till Wednesday (August 18), no police protection was provided to him.Ramesh noted that approximately `1,000 crore had been misappropriated in the Distance education department in the last three years.  His quest to bring out the truth had been suspended because of the delay by the police in taking action based on his complaint.  Fearing for his life, he had to change residences frequently.When Express contacted Assistant Commissioner Stalin, he said that he had directed the police to check the call records of Ramesh and that police force had been posted in front of the university.