Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)

Mangaluru, Jan 1: S Murugan, the newly-appointed police commissioner of Mangaluru city took charge at the city police commissionerate here on Thursday January 1.

Outgoing police commissioner R Hitendra, who has been transferred to the IGP headquarters in Bengaluru, handed over the charge to Murugan.

Speaking to reporters, Murugan said, "I am not new to this place; I have worked here before too. So I know the sitaution here and I know the people of Mangaluru want to live in peace. All the officers who were here before me have done a good job and the same needs to continue. We all need changes and I will do it. I have worked in other places, each of which have unique features. I do not want to say I will do this and that, I too need time to study the present situation here.

"We all know that this place is communally sensitive. We will take steps as per law without any making any distinction. Whoever deserves to be booked will be booked.

"When a communal clash happens, the very next day people forget about who instigated it or who created disharmony, and instead talk about police and intelligence failure, and this will continue. People have to live in harmony and not fight indulge in communal violence. Everybody says Mangaluru is communal, but why it is so is what people need to think about.

"The response of the people to a communal incident is important. Those who give provocative remarks to add fuel to fire need to be handled properly. We will also look into the social media aspect of it to ensure that it is not used to disrupt peace," he said.

"I need some time to study the present situation. After that I will act accordingly to law," he added.

He also stressed on the police responsibility in maintaining law and order and said, "The police have the responsibility is to spread harmony and peace in society. It is the job of police to curb communal activities and maintain law and order.

"As police, we work hard, struggle and go home with a feeling of satisfaction believing that we have done a good job. Bengaluru is different from Mangaluru. The concerns here are different. Here in Mangaluru we have to know the system well. The problems faced by the people and other things, how to work in this environment and how to provide adequate police service are the main challenges."

He also said that steps will be taken to provide adequate security during festivals in the city, beginning with Id Milad.