Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje / Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Nov 8: Newly-appointed home minister and KPCC chief Dr Parameshwar on Sunday November 8 paid his first visit to the city since taking up the new post in the Karnataka cabinet.

Parameshwar first visited the district jail where two murders had taken place in a gang war on November 2, and held discussions with the police and jail officials.

Addressing a press meet later at the Circuit House, he said, "This is my visit to the coastal region as home minister. The purpose of my visit is two-fold - first, to hold review meetings with officers in Mangalore range, including the city commissionerate and officials of other surrounding districts and study the problems and provide solutions.

"Secondly, an astonishing incident recently took place in Mangaluru jail. I visited the jail and studied the problems there. ADGP (prisons) Kamal Pant and senior officers also visited the jail and suspended five officers and enquiry going on into the incident. A detailed probe is on to find out who were involved in the murders, how the weapons came inside the jail and so on.

"The present jail is old, of the British era. The people then had principles and respected the law, but now it is not so anymore. The present jail facilities are not enough for the modern world, hence a decision should be taken to amend the jail manual. We have identified 40 acres of land in Konaje to build an open jail. We will urge the CM and finance minister to include it in the next budget," he said.

"The home department has also taken a decision to provide basic facilities in the jail. As many as 20 CISF personnel have been appointed and they will take charge soon," he added.

When pointed out that CISF personnel will be posted outside the jail and how it would help in the security inside, he said, "We have discussed this issue. We have to review the jail manual and amend it. No one can enter the jail easily. After the studying the matter, we will decision about which security forces can be deployed inside the jail. There should be changes in law related to jails in the entire state."

He also said network jammers and CCTVs will be installed in the jail premises immediately.

Asked how the weapons got inside the jail premises, he said, "Detailed probe on it is going on and until it is over, we cannot say anything. I have read some things in the media. The case has been taken up very seriously and I do not want to reveal anything here in the interest of investigation. The department knows it, but it is not correct for me to reveal it."

He also said that he met the inmates in the jail and they said the quality of food provided to them was very good. "The government is spending Rs 26 crore on food for inmates in jails across the state," he said.

Regarding shifting of jail inmates to the proposed new jail, he said the notorious troublemakers and criminals who are dangerous to the society will be shifted to keep them isolated from the rest.

Asked if crime rate had increased in the coastal region, he said, "I request the people of entire Mangaluru coast to maintain peace. The police and law are there and people should not take law into their hands. For any problem they can approach the police who will help according to law. People of Mangaluru are very good, but they should live in peace."

To a question on immoral rowdyism, he said, "Immoral rowdyism should not happen. There are police and the government to protect the law. The government has appointed 1 lac police staff, so leave the job to them."

Regarding alleged threats to ministers from the coastal region, he said the ministers have nothing to fear about as the government is there to support and protect them.

On gambling and illegal activities, Parameshwar said he held a meeting recently with senior officials and asked them to curb illegal activities. "But if this continues, the officers concerned will be held responsible. Give us time."

Asked about BJP's claim in a Cobrapost sting that nearly 60 percent of the police force was made of RSS workers, he brushed aside the claim and said, "Anyone can give statements. Police are not selected on the basis of which god they pray to. They might have got selected through reservation, but except that, police are recruited based on their physical fitness and written tests. There is no interview either. We have recruited 8,000 police personnel this year and 50 percent of them have already been posted.

"We are giving more importance to the police personnel - if they are good, law also will be maintained well," he added.

District incharge minister Ramanath Rai, MLAs Mohiuddin Bava and J R Lobo, MUDA chairman Ibrahim Kodijal and others were present.