Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday directed the Dakshina Kannada district police to register a case against Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) leader K. Jagadish Karanth for allegedly delivering abusive speech against a police officer.
Speaking to presspersons here after reviewing law and order situation in the western police range, Mr. Reddy said that no one is above the law and those abusing police officers should strictly be dealt with.
Mr. Karanth had during a Hindu Samavesha organised in Puttur on Friday reportedly spoke bad about the police sub-inspector and other officers of Sampya Police Station for their alleged anti-Hindu actions. Several organisations, including the Democratic Youth Federation of India, Muslim Merchants Association, Congress Seva Dal, had demanded stern action against Mr. Karanth, saying his speech would demoralise the police force.
Meanwhile, the Home Minister said that he has issued strict instructions to the police to deal with anti-social elements with an iron hand and book those repeatedly breaking the law under the Goonda Act. He said that the police would have to ensure security of visiting foreign tourists as well as students in the region.
He told the police to act against paying guest accommodations in the region if the inmates create nuisance in the neighbourhood. Also, instructions were given to the police to ensure that liquor shops do their business within the stipulated hours, Mr. Reddy said. Autorickshaw stands have to be created wherever necessary, he said and added that required numbers of CCTV cameras have to be installed across the region, particularly, in urban areas.
Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Alok Mohan, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) Hemanth Nimbalkar, Mangaluru Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh, Superintendents of Police, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Chikkamagaluru, C.H. Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Sanjeev M. Patil, Patil Vinayk Vasanthrao and K. Annamalai, respectively, and others were present.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Reddy inaugurated a fire station at Moodbidri town and a traffic police station in Mangaluru.
The newly opened Traffic-South Police Station is located at Naguri and has jurisdiction over places covered by Kankanady Town, Mangaluru Rural, Ullal and Konaje civil police stations. The station would be manned by one inspector, two sub-inspectors, eight assistant sub-inspectors, 22 head constables and 42 constables.
Fish lorries
Mr. Reddy also directed the police to act against fish lorries that spill waste water on roads in the coastal region.
Responding to a question at a press conference here, Mr. Reddy said that the operators have to ensure waste water is not spilled on the roads while transporting fish. Officials have to issue clear instructions to people managing fish loading points, he said.
The Minister was told that despite repeated complaints about foul smell and unsafe roads because of waste water, no action was being taken to curb the menace.
