Unit to be formed to tackle fake news, stringent action against rioters: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Feb 16: An Information Disorder Tackling Unit will be formed in collaboration with the Information Technology and Biotechnology department to take stringent action against those who create insecurity and fear in society by spreading fake news, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday.
Presenting the 2024-25 budget in the legislative assembly, the chief minister also said that the state government will initiate stringent action against those who engage in riots.
"As described by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, our state Karnataka is a garden of peace for all communities," Siddaramaiah said. "For hundreds of years, people belonging to different religions, languages, cultures and communities have been living in harmony in this land. Therefore, our government will initiate stringent action against those who engage in riots in the name of caste, religion and language."
On the Information Disorder Tracking Unit, he said a special cell unit will be formed in the Home department which would be empowered to take suitable legal action against those who create insecurity and fear in society by spreading fake news.
ALSO READ: Programmes to support early-stage startups, women entrepreneurs to be launched: CM Siddaramaiah
In the wake of increasing cases of fake news and other cybercrime cases, 43 CEN (Cyber, Economic and Narcotics) police stations will be upgraded with a view to strengthening cybercrime branch in the state to investigate and take effective action against those who deceive innocent people, the chief minister said.
Artificial intelligence software, baggage scanners and other state-of-the-art equipment will be procured at a cost of Rs five crore to ensure the smooth administration and security of all prisons of the state.
High-security prisons will be constructed in Shivamogga district at a cost of Rs 100 crore, he added.
To increase efficiency of the Fire and Emergency department, one per cent cess will be levied on property tax of newly constructed multistoried buildings according to the Karnataka Fire Force Act, 1964.
Under the Police Gruha-2025 scheme, 1,128 police quarters have been constructed so far and the construction work of 2,956 police quarters is under progress at a cost of Rs 800 crore. Rs 200 crore will be provided for the year 2024-25 for this project.
"Own buildings will be constructed for the police stations and offices that don't have buildings at a cost of Rs 30 crore, and necessary equipment and software will be provided to strengthen mobile forensic and audio-visual branch of Forensic Science Laboratories at the cost of Rs 10 crore," the CM added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
LIVE | Election Results of five states 2026
New Delhi: The countdown has begun for the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in five states that have captured the attention of people across the country.
The counting of votes for the Assembly constituencies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry will begin simultaneously at 8 am, and the fate of candidates in a total of 824 constituencies will be decided shortly.
The counting of postal ballots will take place first, followed by the counting of EVM votes in several rounds.
- BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is leading in West Bengal’s Nandigram constituencyFive-state elections: Postal vote counting begins
- TMC, BJP lead in one seat each in West Bengal
- In Tamil Nadu, DMK leads in 3 constituencies, while TVK leads in 1
- UDF leads in 5 seats in Kerala, BJP in 1, LDF in 1
- BJP leads in 2 seats, AIUDF in 1 in Assam
- AINRC leads in 1 constituency in Puducherry
- TMC leads in 5 seats in West Bengal; Mamata Banerjee’s party maintains initial lead
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin leads in Kolathur
- BJP takes early lead in Assam
- Congress-led UDF leads in Kerala
- In Tamil Nadu, TVK chief Vijay leads in the Perambur constituency, lags in Tiruchirappalli South
- BJP leads in 10 seats in Assam
- LDF candidate V.P.P. Mustafa leads in the Thrikkaripur Assembly constituency
- Out of 294 seats in West Bengal, BJP is leading in 14 seats, TMC in 12 seats, Congress in 2 seats
- Out of 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, DMK is leading in 15 seats, AIADMK is leading in 5 seats, TVK is leading in 2 seats
- Out of 126 seats in Assam, BJP is leading in 31 seats, Congress in 4 seats, AIUDF in 2 seats.
- Out of 30 seats in Puducherry, NRC+ is leading in 3 seats, Congress in 2 seats, TVK in 1 seat.
- Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suffers a setback in theBerhampore constituency in West Bengal.
