Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Jun 23: Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police (SP) Dr Sharanappa on Tuesday June 23 said that henceforth, moral policing would be termed as 'immoral rowdyism' and requested the media also to use the same term.
Interacting with the media in a 'Meet the Press' at Press Club here on Tuesday, Dr Sharanappa said, "Moral policing will henceforth be reported as 'immoral rowdyism', as there is neither morality nor policing in it. The police will use this new term, and I request the media also to do the same while reporting such cases.
"In such cases, the victims usually hesitate to file complaints, but our police department encourages them to come forward and file cases, so that the accused can be arrested immediately and shifted to the jail concerned," he added.
Moving on to other issues, he said, "When I took charge and came to Mangaluru as SP, a few said that it is a very sensitive area, so there was initial setback as there were several cases to tackle. But due to motivated team effort throughout the district, law and order came under control.
"We have succeeded in providing unbiased and people-friendly service. This is because of each member of the staff, support from the public and guidance of senior officers. We are taking action as per law without any discrimination," he said.
On the shortage of police staff he said, "Police-public ratio is very less and we are making sincere efforts to increase it. There were 90 vacancies for police constables and already 50 are recruited and they are in the process of documentation. The DSP post in Puttur is vacant from 6 months. As per UNO guide, there should be 250 police personnel for one lac population, but in Karnataka state the average ratio is 135 personnel for one lac population and in DK district it is 55."
Regarding professionalism in the police department, he said, "We are trying to provide transparent and people-friendly police stations. Some changes have also been adopted by the department. We are also making efforts to get ISO certification.
"We are computerising police documents through IT department in all stations. We have implemented this in the entire district. We have also implemented electronic beat. As per new laws and directions from the Supreme Court and the high court, we are changing the way investigation is done," he added.
"We are making efforts to improve the quality of investigation. We have good forensic experts' team in the district and police officers are well educated, smart and qualified. Our aim is to provide unbiased and people-friendly service. We are making sincere efforts to bring professionalism in the police department," the SP said.
Explaining the above plans further, he said, "The police IT department is doing paperless documentation. We are leading the country in terms of use of technology in police department. It is being done under the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems) scheme of the central government. It will enable one to work online, and give access to senior police officers who can monitor FIRs and case status online. It will also be linked to the judciary. This will reduce man hours and create transperancy in the system.
"Electronic beat has helped urban areas more than the rural ones. We have implemented this even in town and taluks. Through electronic beat, we get information about the movements of our police personnel. Each police station has 10 readers monitoring their movements.
"The ISO certification is in final stage. It got delayed because of elections. We are trying to get it by next month," he added.
Regarding members of Malekudiya community joining home guard service, he said the police is ready to recruit whoever is eligible and interested.
When asked about Naxal movement in the district, he said the ANF teams have been doing combing and search operations.
Regarding crimes against children in school beat system in this regard, he said, "Most of the victims in such cases are from remote areas. We are planning to keep in touch with locals. In each police station we will have two personnel who will have complete knowledge about villages, the anti-social elements in the those villages as well as the local leaders."
On drug abuse among students, he said, "As of now there are no new complaints.It rural areas teams have been formed to investigate such cases and the drug racket has been identified in Puttur and Sullia. If we find such cases of drug abuse, we will take action. Some unemployed youths and migrants are into this business.
"Police are creating awareness programmes, essay competitions in schools and colleges on issues like drug abuse and so on. We are also taking action under Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) to tackle tobacco consumption and smoking by creating awareness and displaying boards."
He also said that CCTVs have been installed in 20 places, in sensitive areas, checkposts and religious centres. "Kukke Shree Subramanya Temple has undertaken a project to install six CCTVs at a cost of Rs 30 lac and we will provide any assistance they need," he added.
Asked SC/ST meetings, he said they are held regularly, and that the third Sunday of every month is fixed as 'complainant's day' where the status of a case is revealed to the complainant.
"No political pressure"
When a reporter asked if he stood by the statement he made at the time of taking charge that he would walk out if there was any political pressure, he said, "I have not felt any political pressure so far. Within the purview of law anybody can make a call, but there is no pressure. I stand by my words - I am ready to walk out anytime if there is political pressure."
Asked to mention some of the most challenging cases he faced in DK district, he said, "We have so far been unable to crack the Pushpalatha murder case in Uppinangady. Other than that, Kadaba rape, Vittal rape case where two of the three accused were traced and brought from Gujarat, and another case in Bantwal where the accused was found in Mumbai were the most challenging."
On the status of Sowjanya rape and murder case, he said the CBI is investigating it and the district police has no right to intervene or ask for its status. "If the CBI team needs any facilities or assistance, we are ready to provide the same," he added.
"The Karnataka police is leading in comparison to police of other states, even in terms of conduct. But people fear coming to police stations to complaint, so are trying to make the stations people-friendly," he added.
Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists' Union executive president Jagannath Shetty Bala and secretary Srinath Nayak were present.