By Our Reporter
The Speaker of Parliament Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has summoned the Internal Affairs Minister Gen. Jeje Odongo, to explain circumstances under which Anti-terrorism policemen attacked businessman Sudhir Ruparelia’s son Rajiv Ruparelia in Kololo last week, with intent to harm him.
Speaker Kadaga’s summons came on Wednesday after Kasilo County Member of Parliament,Elijah Okupa, raised the matter on the floor of Parliament. “Last week we heard about the people who wanted to kidnap Mr Rajiv Ruparelia when he was walking but was only saved by his dogs. We have been waiting for the Minister of Internal Affairs to tell us who those people are because in the videos we saw they were dressed in police uniform,” Okupa said.
He added that the incident was captured on CCTV cameras and therefore it should be easy for police to apprehend the suspects.
However, Gen Odongo and his Junior Minister, Mario Obiga Kania, were not in Parliament to respond to the matter.
Their absence prompted the Speaker to state that the country needs an update about the people who attacked Rajiv, who is also a Motor Rally Driver.
“I ask the Minister of Internal Affairs to come here and give an update on the issue of the people who attacked Mr Rajiv,” Ms Kadaga ruled, although she did not give a specific date for the Minister’s appearance.
Rajiv, who is the Managing Director of Ruparelia Group, is nursing wounds he sustained last Friday after operatives attached to the Anti-terrorism Police Unit assaulted him near his home in Kololo, a Kampala suburb, as he was jogging with his dogs.
He said prior to the attack, he had stopped a speeding vehicle to inquire why the driver was driving recklessly in a residential neighbourhood. He said it turned out that the people traveling in the van were policemen, who reportedly responded by telling him that they were speeding in Uganda not in India. Thereafter several policemen jumped out of the car and assaulted him, until he was rescued by his dogs, although the policemen viciously wounded one of the dogs, before driving off in their white van.
The dog handler, according to Mr Ruparelia, was also assaulted before he was admitted to hospital.
However, the Uganda police have since denied the attacks after they said in a statement that the Anti-terrorism
Officers were defending themselves against Rajiv, who had reportedly unleashed his dogs to attack them after a heated verbal exchange, allegations Rajiv denied.