'Anti-Communal Force' to start operations in three districts in Karnataka
Bengaluru, May 29 (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said that the "Anti-Communal Force" that was announced earlier to deal with communal incidents will start operating in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Shivamogga districts.
He said a government order has been issued regarding the creation of an Anti-Communal Force with immediate effect.
"After considering and studying -- how to structure it, who will head it, what powers should be given -- and working out all those things took time. We have finally issued a government order for the Anti-Communal Force to come into effect immediately. The DGP will take the necessary measures," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters, he said, "We had planned to disband the Anti-Naxal Force, half of that has been converted into the Anti-Communal Force. All the necessary powers and amenities required will be provided to them. They will begin in three districts--Shivamogga, Udupi and Dakshina Kannada-- with more focus."
Noting that the region consisting of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga and other places with communal activities will be considered as "sensitive", Parameshwara said "merciless action" will be taken against those involved in such activities.
"We will not rest unless we suppress such communal activities and murders," he added.
According to the order, the government has approved and ordered the establishment of a new "Special Action Force" (Anti-Communal Force) in the state.
It said out of the total 656 posts of various grades currently existing in the Anti-Naxal Force in the state, 248 posts -- officers/staff -- have been separated and a separate Special Action Force has been established. They include a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP), a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP-Civil), and an Assistant Commandant.
Also, four officials of Police Inspectors rank, 16 officials of Police Sub-Inspector rank, among others.
The order said the newly established Special Action Force will consist of three companies, which will be stationed in Udupi, Shivamogga and Dakshina Kannada districts.
The duties and responsibilities of the Special Action Force include: To have an intelligence unit comprising a technical cell to collect and monitor media and social media and intelligence for hate speech, inflammatory incidents and communal incidents; to create a warning system through human intelligence and surveillance for potential communal violence; to undertake confidence building measures.
Also, to undertake measures to identify and monitor radicalisation; and to take steps to deploy Special Task Force Officers/Personnel by the Zonal IGPs in cases of communal violence.
The home minister earlier this month, following the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru, 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 coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
He had, however, subsequently indicated that it may be extended to other districts in the state.
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Illegal sand mining has created environmental crisis in National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary: SC
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday said rampant illegal riverbed sand mining has created an "environmental crisis" and wreaked "havoc" in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, causing a grave risk to the gharial (long-snouted crocodile) preservation project.
Slamming the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh for their utter failure in dealing with the issue, the apex court directed them to install high-resolution Wi-Fi-enabled CCTV cameras along all routes frequently used for illegal sand mining in the area.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta directed that live feed of such surveillance cameras shall be placed under the direct control, supervision and operational oversight of the superintendent of police or the senior superintendent of police of the concerned district and the divisional forest officer.
It said these officers shall ensure continuous and effective monitoring of the CCTV feeds by designating appropriate officers.
"It can't be gainsaid that the issues involved are of great concern in as much as the rampant illegal mining activities in the river bed have created an environmental crisis and havoc in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary causing a grave risk to the very project of gharial preservation of which the state governments themselves were proponents and were under an obligation to foster and promote," Justice Mehta said while pronouncing the order.
The bench directed the authorities in these three states to initiate prompt and necessary action under law if any instance of illegal mining or allied activities comes to light.
It said the authorities shall ensure seizure of vehicles or machinery found involved in illegal sand mining and also initiate prosecution of persons involved in it.
The bench, which passed several other directions, posted the matter for hearing on May 11.
The top court passed the order in a suo motu case titled 'In Re: Illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary and threat to endangered aquatic wildlife'.
The National Chambal Sanctuary, also called the National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 5,400-sq km tri-state protected area.
Besides the endangered gharial, it is home to the red-crowned roof turtle and the endangered Ganges river Dolphin.
Located on the Chambal river near the tripoint of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the sanctuary was first declared a protected area in Madhya Pradesh in 1978 and now constitutes a long and narrow eco-reserve co-administered by the three states.
On March 13, the top court took suo motu cognisance of news reports about rampant illegal sand mining on the banks of the Chambal river.
