Karnataka's cops get new guidelines: Aggressive stance on drugs, hate speech, other crimes
SPs, DCPs ordered to visit one police station daily
A 'Conference of Senior Police Officers' took place on July 6, 2024, at the DG and IGP office, where the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara participated. The convention was aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of police operations across the state. Director General & Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP) and Head of the Police Force (HoPF) Alok Mohan issued a series of comprehensive guidelines that all police personnel are required to follow.
In his address, the DG & IGP underscored the importance of maintaining a strong connection with the community. District Superintendents of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police in all Commissionerates, including Bangalore City, are instructed to visit at least one police station daily. During these visits, they must engage continuously with the public and police personnel to address grievances and improve service delivery. Additionally, Zonal IGPs/DIGPs and Additional Commissioners of Police in Bangalore City are also mandated to visit police stations daily. They are to review the stations' functioning, ensuring that operations are citizen-centric.
The DG & IGP emphasized the immediate need for senior officers to respond to heinous and major crimes. The District Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police must reach the crime scene as soon as they receive information about such incidents.
In a bid to curb organized crime, the police force has been directed to take stringent legal action against activities such as clubs, gambling, and matka. The directive also includes a monthly initiative where officers of all ranks, including SPs and DCPs, visit schools and colleges to raise awareness about drugs and narcotics. This is part of a broader strategy to make Karnataka a drug-free state, with police units conducting intensive operations against drugs and drug paraphernalia daily.
The DG & IGP stressed the importance of the 'e-Beat' application, directing all police officers and personnel to fully understand its management and implement the service effectively. Increasing police visibility in public places was another critical point. Officers and personnel are required to patrol public areas in uniform from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, ensuring a noticeable presence.
To prevent eve-teasing and the sale of drugs around educational institutions, police beats should be conducted during the opening and closing times of schools and colleges. Moreover, all complaints received at police stations must be registered under the appropriate legal provisions, with immediate action taken. Unit officers are tasked with sending 'decoys' to police stations to ensure compliance.
Addressing the issue of road safety, the DG & IGP highlighted the need for highway patrol vehicles to ensure that parked vehicles on highways have their parking lights on and are parked at a safe distance from the road to prevent accidents.
Social media monitoring and action against fake news have been given increased importance. Police are encouraged to take proactive measures in necessary cases. Regular peace committee meetings should be organized at district and city levels to maintain good relations with all community sections and social classes.
Officers from the level of PSI to SP/DCP are instructed to hold regular 'Janaspandan' or 'Public Relations meetings' within their jurisdiction to address public grievances. An immediate and focused effort is required from all police stations to locate missing girls and women.
In maintaining law and order, unit officers must ensure the deployment of the maximum number of 'DAR/CAR' unit personnel before deploying KSRP platoons. Regular inspections of training institutes by District SPs, as well as KSRP Commandants and Principals of Police Training Institutions, are also mandated.
Police buildings under construction or repair should be closely monitored by unit officers to ensure quality and timely completion. Any modification in construction work post-approval of the building plan is prohibited.
Surprise inspections of jails by District SPs and DCPs are required regularly, with necessary actions taken to arrest evasive prisoners. Lastly, strict actions must be taken against individuals who make 'hate speech' or 'inflammatory declarations' in accordance with the law.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
