Karnataka government to establish 33 Special Police Stations for SC/ST atrocity cases
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government announced on Thursday the establishment of 33 police stations dedicated to handling cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities. This initiative is aimed to improve the efficiency of investigations and increase the currently low conviction rates for such cases.
The state government plans to fill 450 vacancies in these new stations to ensure they operate effectively. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance the enforcement of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989.
Karnataka joins states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala, which have already implemented similar measures. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah previously highlighted this initiative in his 2023-24 budget, focusing on strengthening the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement.
The state Cabinet has approved the creation of one special police station per district, with Bengaluru receiving two. Each station will be headed by an IPS officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police. The total expenditure for establishing and maintaining these stations is estimated to be around Rs 73 crore annually.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister HK Patil, speaking after the Cabinet meeting, noted that local police forces are currently overburdened with various responsibilities, including law and order maintenance, traffic control, providing security to dignitaries, and election duties. This workload has adversely affected the efficiency of police investigations, particularly in cases of atrocities against SC/ST communities.
Minister Patil emphasized that the new specialized police stations would ensure quicker and more focused investigations of atrocity cases. He acknowledged the low conviction rates, citing that out of 7,633 registered cases since 2022, only 1,723 had been disposed of, with 1,363 acquittals and just 68 convictions—a mere 4 percent conviction rate.
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.
Speaker UT Khader attends local cricket tournament during Bhatkal visit
Bhatkal: Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly U. T. Khader visited Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district on Saturday and attended a local cricket match being played as part of a tournament organised by the Cosmos Sports Centre of Bhatkal.
After attending a programme at Anjuman Hami-E-Muslimeen, Khader proceeded to the Bhatkal Taluka Stadium, where the tournament is underway. He was accompanied by office-bearers of the Cosmos Sports Centre and several local community leaders.
Those present during the visit included President of Majlis-e-Islah Wa Tanzeem and former JD(S) leader Inayathullah Shabandri, Vice President of Tanzeem Atiqur Rahman Muniri, General Secretary Abdul Raqeeb MJ, President of Cosmos Sports Centre Ismail Anjum, Managing Director of Mohtisham Complexes S. M. Arshad, former president of the Bhatkal Muslim Youth Federation Imtiyaz Udyawar, among others.
Addressing players and organisers, Khader extended his best wishes to the participating teams and urged the players to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship. He said such tournaments help promote unity and brotherhood among the youth.
The cricket tournament began on November 21 and will conclude with the final match on December 21. It is being organised as part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Cosmos Sports Centre.
Cosmos Sports Centre is one of the member clubs of the Bhatkal Muslim Youth Federation and is known for its active role in promoting sports in the town. Apart from sporting activities, the centre is also involved in various social and community initiatives, including efforts to promote education among students.
