Centre urged to supply modern weapons

By T.S. Ranganna

BANGALORE, OCT. 13. The Minister for Home and Infrastructure, Mr. M. Mallikarjun Kharge, said today that the State Government had written to the Centre seeking supply of sophisticated weapons and other modern equipment in view of the need to tackle organised crimes effectively.

He told The Hindu that the Centre had realised the gravity of the nature of crimes being committed in the country including Karnataka, which had a long coastline, and expressed its willingness to bring in a Central legislation on the lines of the Organised Crimes Act, enacted by the State legislature, sometime ago.

Security personnel patrolling the coastline as well as police engaged in operations against underworld elements required sophisticated weapons, Mr. Kharge pointed out. Some underworld gangs were entering Bangalore and other cities in the State after committing crimes elsewhere.

Being one of the larger States in terms of size and population, and considering the huge investment being made here, coupled with the speedy industrial growth, peace and tranquility should be maintained in Karnataka to sustain the pace of development.

Earlier, the Union Government used to treat police as a department which earned no revenue. But, for the first time, the Centre had realised the importance of modernising the Police Department by providing sophisticated weapons, equipment such as wireless sets and vehicles, Mr. Kharge said. It had come forward to grant 50 per cent of the funds required and the State governments would have to pay the rest.

He said the Centre had asked its Ordnance Factory to provide weapons which it might not be able to supply. However, as the factory might take time to make supplies, the State Government had ordered weapons from other sources.

Recruitment

The Government Order on the appointment of 3,560 police personnel including assistant sub-inspectors and constables for upgrading 100 under-staffed police stations had been issued, Mr. Kharge said. This included 1,005 personnel for 43 police stations in Bangalore and 80 personnel for VVIP security. The recruitment would take place after three months.

Airport project

Mr. Kharge said talks with builders on the international airport project at Devanahalli were completed and final touches were being given to the tender procedure.

The land required for the project had been acquired and work would begin very soon. The airport would be ready in three years.

The minister said that the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India, who met him here on Friday, agreed to the proposal to levy a surcharge of Rs. 200 per passenger for generating revenue for the airport project.

Mr. Kharge said that the Karnataka Rail Development Corporation had initiated the procedures for laying a 150-km. Hassan- Mangalore railway line via Sakleshpur at a cost of Rs. 260 crores. The Cabinet had approved the proposal, he added.

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