Mangaluru : Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Tuesday said law and order in Dakshina Kannada was better than before even as he cautioned that police will sternly deal with those attempting to break the law. He was addressing presspersons here after a review meeting with senior police officers from the Western Police Range as well as Mangaluru Police Commissionerate.

Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here, Parameshwara said, law and order could still be improved in the region and he has given necessary directions to the police in this regard. Compared to previous years, the law and order situation here (Mangaluru) is better now, but it can be better still. I have instructed the police to be more vigilant and deal strictly with anyone who goes against the law, irrespective of whether that persons belongs to any party or organization,” he added.

On the murder of Karopadi gram panchayat vice-president Abdul Jaleel, “So far police have succeeded in arresting 11 persons and investigation is on. As per the information available, chargesheet will be filed soon.”

The alleged police atrocity on Ahmed Qureshi, an accused in an attempt-to-murder case, the home minister said, “CoD inquiry is going on, once it is done, truth will be revealed whether atrocity took place or not.

Earlier, Mr. Parameshwara visited the family of A. Jalil Karopady, vice-president of Karopady Gram Panchayat, who was recently murdered and Karthik Raj, who was murdered about six months ago. Asked about the reported involvement of underworld operative Vikky Shetty and Sangh Parivar outfits in the murder of Jalil, Mr. Parameshwara said he cannot comment as the police are still investigating the case. He did not endorse the statement of District in-charge Minister that Sangh Parivar outfits were behind Jalil’s murder. Mr. Parameshwara said he could speak only after the investigation concludes. About the enormous delay in apprehending the accused in Karthik Raj murder case, Mr. Parameshwara said many a times, investigations take time. Despite deploying the highest number of personnel, the Home Department is unable to crack the murder of writer M.M. Kalburgi even after two years, he said.

The Minister said he visited the families of murder victims as there were attempts to blow the incidents out of proportion and give a communal angle. He thought the visit could quell such attempts. There was no politics involved in the visit, he said. Consoling Jalil’s family, Mr. Parameshwara assured that the perpetrators of the murder will be brought to book. He also assured to provide suitable compensation to the family.

District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai, Shakuntala Shetty, MLA for Puttur, and others were present on the occasion.