Kannada film star says police denying him protection

Bangalore, Feb 15 : Kannada film star Vinod Raj and his mother, veteran actress Leelavathi, are upset with police for not providing protection to them despite an allegedly murderous attack on them.

On Feb 7, the two were going in their car along with their manager Nagaraj when there was a loud noise near the vehicle, shattering the windows of the vehicle.

Vinod says they have been in a state of shock since the attack and wants police protection.

Bangalore City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari, however, said no gun shots were fired. He said that, according to ballistic experts, the broken glass of the car's window showed no elements of lead.

The police official thus refused to give protection to the stars.

However, Vinod said: "I suspect that it was a gun shot. There was a hole in the glass. The moment car just moved from the signal after the green light, we heard a big noise.

"The bullet couldn't penetrate the glass because the car was in motion. I suspect the people who were trying to attack us were also in a moving car," Vinod told IANS here Sunday.

"I don't know why we have been targeted for such persistent attacks. We stay away from film functions and other celebrations," said Vinod.

The actor says he was attacked twice earlier and informed police about the attacks.

"A couple of years ago, a man was roaming inside my farm house with a fully loaded gun. We caught him and handed him over to police. Then my car's windshield was broken while it was parked in front of my office. Police have so far not investigated the cases," said Vinod.

Leelavathi said: "We are living in fear ever since the bullet attack on our car. Even onlookers said they heard a gun shot. After lodging the complaint, I had requested for police protection. But the police officials say that no bullet was fired at our car. They have yet to fully investigate the matter.

"It is just our luck that we have survived all these attacks so far. We would reiterate that police protection is necessary because we are also getting some mysterious calls," she said.