Bantwal : Union Minister for Law D V Sadananda Gowda said the law and order in the State has deteriorated.

After observing Tipu Jayanti, the State has seen murder and assault in Bantwal, Moodbidri, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan and Belagavi. The incidents of sexual assault cases are also on the rise in the state, he charged.

He was speaking to media persons on Sunday after visiting the house of Harish Poojary, who was stabbed to death by miscreants at Hale Gate near Manihalla in Bantwal recently.

He said that Home and Intelligence Departments have become inactive. The innocent youths are losing their lives. To hide the administrative failure, the State government is pointing fingers at the Opposition party, he claimed.

He urged the officials to arrest the culprits at the earliest.

Gowda said, “Judicial inquiry is suited to conduct an impartial probe into the serial murder following group clash and sexual assault cases in the State. The Centre is not interfering in the State government’s affairs.” He handed over a compensation of Rs 50,000 to the mother of deceased.

Earlier, after visiting Sri Ullalthi Malaraya Daivasthana in Puttur, he alleged that the State government is supporting clashes to hide its failure in administration. The State government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is busy with internal politics, he alleged.

“There were discussions on for and against Tipu Sultan for the last two years. In spite of opposition, the State government went ahead with the celebrations. The government had a hidden agenda in observing Tipu Jayanti. The Centre is observing the law and order situation in the State. In case of necessity, the Home Ministry will issue suggestions and guidelines to the State. There has been an increase in untoward incidents in the last few days in the State. The State government has failed to take measures to maintain law and order,” he charged.

During the bomb blast in Bengaluru, the Home Ministry had ditrected the State government to strengthen security and install CCTV cameras at strategic locations. The Centre had even agreed to provide funds for this purpose. Even after two years, the State government has failed to submit a proposal to the Home Ministry on this issue, he charged.