Police given free hand to act against communal elements vitiating religious harmony: Araga Jnanendra
Belagavi, Dec 15: Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Wednesday said the police have been given a free hand to act against elements from any community who vitiate communal harmony.
"We have not given any direction to police to act against one community and not the other. We want law and order in the state and communal harmony is important for us. We have given a free hand to police to act against communal elements who vitiate religious harmony," he told the Karnataka Assembly.
He was replying to the matter raised by Congress MLA U T Khader who alleged communal tensions in coastal Karnataka due to fringe elements who organise events like 'Trishool Deeksha' which lead to communal flare up.
"Such events result in clashes between communities. Give police freedom to act against such elements who try to vitiate the atmosphere," Khader said.
In his reply, Jnanendra said police promptly initiated action whenever it came across any such incident.
"Irrespective of the faith, police are acting mercilessly against those who disturb peace," the minister said.
He cited an example where 300 to 400 people attacked police in Uppinangady area in Dakshina Kannada district. He added that some of the miscreants attacked the policemen with sharp weapons.
The Minister also pointed out that the police acted against those who "celebrated" the death of the Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat along with 12 others in a helicopter crash at Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8.
"People celebrating the death of decorated soldiers lead to conflict. Should we support such elements?" Jnanendra said.
He also told the House that a couple was attacked recently in Mangaluru and the police quickly registered a case on its own.
The Minister asked the Congress MLA to bring any case where the police did not act against communal elements vitiating religious harmony among communities, to the government's notice.
"Don't panic and bring such cases to our notice. We will act tough against such officials," he said.
Jnanendra appealed to the people of coastal Karnataka to maintain communal harmony.
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Hoax bomb threat emails spark security alert at Karnataka government offices; no explosives found
Karwar/Tumakuru: Government offices in three Karnataka towns were placed on high alert on Tuesday after bomb threat emails were received by the tahsildar offices in Karwar and Bhatkal, and the deputy commissioner’s office in Tumakuru.
According to a report published by Deccan Herald, police officials said all three emails originated from a single email ID and contained claims of “revenge from Tamilians and Pakistanis.” Following the threats, security agencies immediately swung into action and the premises were evacuated and thoroughly searched.
Teams from the local police, bomb disposal squad and dog squad were deployed at all locations. Authorities have confirmed that no suspicious objects or explosives were found. They called the threats a hoax, after extensive checks.
Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Deepan M N said precautionary measures were taken as per protocol to ensure public safety. “A detailed search was conducted at all the mentioned offices, but nothing incriminating was found,” he said.
Police have begun efforts to trace the source of the emails and identify the sender while security around key government buildings in the affected districts was heightened as a precaution, officials added.
