Karnataka - Bangalore

Mangalore, Gulbarga, Belgaum to get police commissionerates

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

New chief: R. Srikumar receiving a guard of honour before taking charge as Director-General and Inspector-General of Police, in Bangalore on Monday.

BANGALORE: The new Director-General and Inspector-General of Police R. Srikumar on Monday hinted that police commissionerates would soon be set up in Mangalore, Gulbarga and Belgaum.

Responding to a question from presspersons on the status of the long-pending proposal to create police commissionerates in the three cities, Mr. Srikumar said: “You will soon hear good news in this regard.”

However, he did not elaborate.

In view of the increase in the population of Mangalore, Gulbarga and Belgaum, and the resultant rise in crime and law and order problems, the State Government had planned to set up police commissionerates, headed by a police commissioner.

The three cities are now part of the respective district police units, headed by Superintendent of Police.

Presently, Bangalore, Mysore and Hubli-Dharwad have police commissionerates in the State.

After taking over as State police chief from K.R. Srinivasan, who retired on superannuation, Mr. Srikumar said he would strive to “make the Karnataka police technology-oriented professionals.”

Mr. Srikumar, who is an electrical engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology, said he would focus on extensive use of technology to ensure that people of Karnataka get “top class” police service.

“We will ensure that people’s aspirations are fulfilled and their grievances addressed. Subhadra Karnataka-Suraksha Karnataka would be our motive,” he remarked.

The State police website would be re-launched in a couple of days and every activity of the police would be available on the Net on “need-to-know basis,” he said.

Mr. Srikumar said there would be “zero-tolerance” towards corruption, and efficient officers would be encouraged. Any complaint of corruption against the police would be properly probed. “I will provide all assistance to the Lokayukta to check corruption. A few minutes ago, I had an informal conversation in this regard with Additional Director-General of Police (Lokayukta) R.K. Dutta,” he said.

Mr. Srikumar said steps would be taken to build the capacity and skills of policemen. Admitting that there was shortage of manpower in the department, he said various proposals for augmenting the manpower were pending with the Government.

Replying to a question on his strategy for checking the naxalite menace, Mr. Srikumar said naxalism was a social problem, and in a democracy there would always be voices of dissent. “If dissent is expressed through violence, the rule of law will take over. The police would take actions on the instructions of the Government,” he observed.

Terming terrorism as a global phenomenon, the State police chief said top priority would be accorded to contain terrorist activities. He said steps were being taken to strengthen the anti-terrorist cell. “There should be more cooperation from the public and the media to check terrorism,” he said.

Profit:

Mr. Srikumar, who was till now Chairman and Managing Director of Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation Ltd., said that for the first time since its inception, the corporation had earned a profit of Rs. 13 crore during 2007-2008. The board of directors had decided to pay 100 per cent dividend to the State Government, he said.

Mr. Srinivasan thanked his colleagues for the cooperation they had extended to him during his 36 years of service and hoped that the State police force would do better under Mr. Srikumar’s leadership.

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