From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jan 27:  Even as Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who got a virtual dressing down from the state’s Governor H R Bhardwaj during the Republic Day parade in Bangalore and a firm direction to put an end to the series of attacks against churches and also to punish the culprits, went to the extent of advocating cutting the hands and legs of those responsible for such heinuous acts as a deterrent punishment, Home Minister Dr V S Acharya threw up his hands in helplessness and made it clear that the Government cannot protect all churches, mosques and temples in the state.

The Chief Minister, who visited Ulavi near Joida in Uttara Kannada district, as per live television coverage had reportedly  said mere arrests and sending the culprits to jails was not enough to prevent the repeated attacks against churches allegedly by anti-social elements and felt that cutting the hands and legs of the evil forces was the only deterrent punishment to check the menace.

Yeddyurappa was reacting to questions from reporters over the attacks against churches near Bhatkal and Karwar in the Uttara Kannada district and in Mysore on the eve of the Republic Day and also the criticism from the opposition Congress leaders, who had blamed the Sangh Parivar activists, for the church attacks, destruction of statues and other acts of vandalism.

The Chief Minister said the Government was determined to curb the church attacks and pointed out that the police had been given stern directions to conduct thorough investigations and nail the miscreants, who were out to besmirch the BJP Government’s image in the State as being anti-minorities.

He also alleged that the attacks were ``politically motivated’’ and promised to come out with details shortly.

Meanwhile, the Home Minister Dr V S Acharaya, who spoke to reporters in Bangalore, pleaded the Government’s helplessness to protect or provide protection to the churches, mosques and temples as the police force was not sufficient to handle the task.

While the strength of the entire police force in the State was 90,000, Dr Acharya mentioned that there were 3,000 churches, 4,000 mosques and some 43,000 temples besides about 1.25 crore houses in the state. ``Even if the Government were to direct the police to provide security to all the churches, mosques and temples in the State, can the police force  be able to handle the task?,’’ he asked.

The Home Minister advised all churches, mosques and temples and the persons running them to take steps to arrange their own private security besides installing closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and other surveillance measures.

Dr Acharya appealed to the media and the opposition parties not to ``exaggerate’’ the church attacks to malign the BJP Government and pointed out that the attacks could well have been mere acts of theft or burglary. ``There is no truth or basis for the allegation that the attacks were carried out or instigated by Sangh Parivar elements,’’ he asserted and contended that anti-social elements could also be behind the incidents.

MANGALORE POLICE COMMISSIONERATE TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL IN ONE YEAR:

The Home Minister, who had inaugurated the police commissionerate in Mangalore – the fourth city corporation in the State to have such a facility—on Republic Day, said the new commissionerate will become fully operational in the next six months to one year.

Pointing out that the proposal to create a separate police commissionerate in the coastal city of Mangalore was mooted as far back as in 1987, Dr Acharya said it could not materialize due to various reasons. It was necessary in view of the existence of the airport, all weather harbour, a large number of educational institutions and a vast sea coast besides proper maintainance of the law and order situation, he explained.

He indicated that the was examining the proposals to establish police commissionerates in  the city corporations of Gulbarga, Belgaum and Bellary.  However, the proposals for setting up of police commissionerates in Belgaum and Bellary may be considered in the near future, he said.

Of the nine city corporations in Karnataka, Bangalore, Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad and Mangalore were having police commissionerates, he said.

Dr Acharya pointed out that neighbouring Kerala had a policy of establishing police commissionerates in all the city corporations in the state unlike Karnataka. ``We need to evolve a similar policy for better maintenance of land and order and effective policing,’’ he added.

COW SLAUGHTER AS PER ARTICLE 48:

The Home Minister explained that the State Government’s step to introduce a legislation to ban cow slaughter was strictly in accordance with the constitutional provision as Article 48 provided for it.  ``The architect of the Constitution Dr B R Amdekar was in its favour,’’ he said.

Dr Acharya also mentioned that Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have already enacted legislations to ban cow slaughter.