Inclusion of Udupi in Special Action Force will not tarnish district’s image: G Parameshwara
Udupi: Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara has clarified that the inclusion of Udupi in the recently formed Special Action Force (SAF) to prevent communal tensions along the coastal belt does not imply that the district is communally sensitive. He stated that the measure was taken purely for precautionary purposes based on recent incidents in the region.
Speaking to reporters at the Udupi guest house on Saturday after offering special prayers at the Kollur Mookambika Temple earlier in the day, the Minister responded to objections raised by MLA Yashpal Suvarna over Udupi’s inclusion in the SAF.
"I have already appealed to the public to ensure that this force remains unused. If no communal incidents take place, the need for such a task force becomes irrelevant. Whether it is necessary or not should be decided by the people themselves. If there is no need, doesn’t that mean communalism is gone?" he said with a smile.
He stressed that the move does not affect the dignity or image of Udupi district. “When we set up the ANF headquarters in Karkala to tackle Naxal activity, did anyone say Udupi’s prestige was hurt? Many were killed by Naxals back then. Just because there is a police presence, does that mean the area has lost its honour?” he asked.
The Minister also clarified that the SAF will be under the jurisdiction of the Mangaluru Police Commissioner, while the IGP will oversee three districts.
Responding to a question on the caste census, Dr Parameshwara said the state cabinet has already decided to conduct a fresh survey due to complaints from several communities and organisations regarding the inaccuracy of data in the earlier report.
“The current caste data is over ten years old. In the past decade, the population has grown by 1.5 crore, and many have pointed out that the earlier data doesn’t reflect this. Therefore, the state government has decided to conduct a new caste census on scientific grounds,” he said.
He also noted that the Union government’s census does not include data on social, educational, or economic backwardness, which is why the state is conducting its own enumeration.
On his temple visit, the Minister clarified that it was personal. “This is not an official visit. Visiting temples is part of our tradition. I went to seek the blessings of Mookambika Devi. Why I went and what I prayed for is not something you should ask or I should disclose,” he said.
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Mother arrested for killing five-month-old child in Tripura
Agartala (PTI): Tripura Police has arrested a woman for allegedly killing her five-month-old child in Sepahijala district, officials said on Monday.
Initial investigation revealed that Suchitra Debbarma (28) killed her infant to pave the way for her plan to elope with a man she had been in a relationship with for a year.
After receiving information from Suchitra's neighbours, a police team headed by officer-in-charge of Sonamura police station Tapas Das went to their house at Rampadapara on Sunday.
"We found the baby lying on a bed while her mother was missing. We took the child to Sonamura sub-divisional hospital, where doctors declared the baby dead. Post-mortem will be conducted soon," he said.
According to Das, Suchitra was later arrested from the village.
"Prima facie, it appeared that Suchitra strangled her child to death when her husband, Amit Debbarma, went out for work at a rubber plantation. During interrogation, she admitted that she wanted to kill the baby and elope with another man with whom she had an extramarital affair," he said.
