What happened to the State’s police intelligence wing? Does it exist? How many police officers and personnel are working in the intelligence wing?
The High Court of Karnataka posed these questions to the State government on Wednesday while asking how could the intelligence wing not get any information when the protests [by garment factory workers] systematically spread across the city on a large scale on the second day (on Tuesday), after a spontaneous protest on Hosur Road on Monday.
The police intelligence wing directly comes under the Chief Minister as this wing is excluded from the Home portfolio.
Justice A.N. Venugopala Gowda, who has been monitoring progress made in investigation of criminal cases registered across the State, and had issued directions in January for filling vacancies in the sanctioned posts in the Police Department, orally observed that both the police personnel as well as the public suffered the most owing to violence on Tuesday.
Noticing that not only a large number of police officers and personnel were attacked but a police station in Hebbagodi was also attacked and a vehicle parked on the station premises was burnt, the court wondered if that was the situation faced by the police themselves then what would be the plight of common people.
Pointing out that shortage of police personnel, which is around 25 to 30 per cent across the State, is one of the reasons why the police were unable to live up to expectation, both in the investigation, and law and order problems, the court expressed serious displeasure over the State’s apathy in filling up at least the sanctioned strength, though it is also inadequate.
Referring to a recent violence in Bengaluru, during which public properties were damaged and roads around Mehkri Circle were blocked for hours, the court questioned what the State was doing when such incidents were recurring.
Pointing out that policemen were handling the protesting women garment workers on Tuesday, the court asked why the strength of woman police was not increased when women constitute almost 50 per cent of the population.
Initially, Mr. Justice Gowda said that the State’s Police Chief and the Additional Direction-General of Police (Recruitment) would have to personally appear before the court to explain delay in filling the vacancies.
However, on a request made by Additional State Public Prosecutor Vijaykumar Majage, the court directed the State Police Chief to file an affidavit by April 22 on action taken and proposed to be taken to fill the vacancies in the Police Department and provide other infrastructure.
