Mangalore: Dr Acharya Presides Peace Meeting - Asks Media to Cooperate
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
- Minister Promises Police Commissionerate to City Before March 31
Mangalore, Feb 9: The policemen and the district administration have been given a free hand in dealing firmly with those who abet crime or get involved in it, asserted state home minister Dr V S Acharya. He also warned the policemen that those failing to act swiftly and affectively, will face severe action including suspension. The police commissionerate is being set up in the city shortly before March 31 this year, he informed, stating that this would enable the district police to handle law and order situation in a better way, as its force will be strengthened and fortified. A decision on the same will be taken after a cabinet meeting shortly, he revealed.
Speaking after presiding over the twin-districts level Peace Committee meeting held in the city on Sunday February 8 in the backdrop of the recent attack on a local pub and harassment of Manjeshwar MLA’s daughter, he said action would be taken without any discrimination notwithstanding the political or any other affiliation of the persons concerned. The policemen have to discerningly decide on the action they want to take in specific instances, he narrated.
He asked the people to immediately inform the policemen whenever any illegal activities occur. If the policemen do not respond positively, the district administration has to be contacted. In case the district administration too fails to act, the people may bring the same to the home minister's notice, he explained, reiterating the need for the people and the media to extend their cooperation and support to the government for maintaining law and order.
Reacting to the threat perception in celebrating Valentine's Day on February 14, he said the police have been instructed to provide proper protection to people. No one who takes law into his hands will be spared. The government is prepared to book such persons under the Goonda Act, Acharya warned. He expressed the opinion that the policemen have taken suitable action in the cases of pub attack and abduction of the MLA's daughter.
Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge minister Krishna J Palemar said, that even minor incidents that occur in the district are getting international level publicity. "This is causing a blemish for the twin-districts. We have to ensure that our districts do not earn bad name," he added.
CPI(M) leader Madhava said that a malicious campaign is being indulged into by some vested interests against his party, by projecting those who abducted the Manjeshwar MLA's daughter and assaulted her friend, as activists of his own party. He confirmed that none of those arrested belong to his party. MLA Abhaychandra Jain and MLC Pratapchandra Shetty asked the government to ensure that the decisions taken at the Peace Committee meeting are implemented.
DYFI leader Sunil Kumar, Suresh Shetty of Environmentalists Union, Mangalore Bar Association president S P Chengappa, Vishwa Hindu Parishat leader M B Puranik, Mangalore Urban Development Authority chairman Dr Madhav Bhandary, Fr Onil D'Souza, Prof Ismail, Prajna Counselling Centre director Prof Hilda Rayappan, Canara Chamber of Commerce and Industry treasurer Ahmed Bawa, Udupi district Congress Committee president Gafoor etc., came up with various suggestions at the meeting.
The home minister informed that the government is examining the desirability of setting up of the Media Ombudsman to avoid even small incidents getting exaggerated out of context. He opined that the media has given undue importance to minor incidents of late, which has ensured that they have got propaganda that is hugely disproportionate to their importance.
Deputy comissioners Ponnuraj (DK district) and Hemalata (Udupi), superintendents of police N Sateesh Kumar (DK) and Madhukar Pawar (Udupi) were at the dais. Head quarters assistant to DK deputy commissioner Prabhakar Sharma welcomed.