Anti-communal force may be extended to other districts: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara
Bengaluru, May 14 (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said that the anti-communal force that was announced, aimed at tackling communal disturbances and crimes in the coastal districts, may be extended to other districts in the state.
He also said that incidents of moral policing which are communal in nature will also be entrusted to the anti-communal force.
The Home Minister, earlier this month had announced that the anti-communal force, on the lines of the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF), will be established to address and mitigate communal disturbances in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
"In the government, we have taken a decision to constitute an anti-communal force within the police department. Earlier when the Naxal activities were there we have created an anti-Naxal force, on the same lines we want to create an anti-communal force, just to see that the society is peaceful," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, polarisation is already taking place here and there, and the government wants to ensure that all those things are put to rest.
"I had asked the Director General of Police to send a proposal in this regard, and I'm told that they have sent the proposal. We will examine it and approve at the government level. Initially I have announced it for two districts, now we may extend it to any districts where there are communal issues," he added.
Responding to a question whether moral policing will also be referred to anti-communal force, the Home Minister said, incidents of moral policing which are communal in nature, will naturally attract action by anti-communal force.
"If it (moral policing) is just a social problem, regular police will look into it. If it is communal in nature or ends up in communal issues then we will definitely entrust it to anti-communal force," he added.
Parameshwara had earlier said that a senior officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP) or above will be entrusted with the leadership and supervision of this anti-communal force.
He has also said that the personnel from the ANF, which is being tapered down following the decline in the Maoist activity in the State, along with other police personnel, would be part of the anti-communal force, and they will function in close coordination with the local law enforcement agencies.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
