Mangaluru : Superintendent of Police S D Sharanappa said a proposal has been sent to the government to sanction 323 additional police staff for the district.

Speaking at the monthly SC/ST grievance meet at his office in Mangaluru on Sunday, he said the state government has sanctioned a police station with 40 staff for Dharmasthala. And assured that the criminals who assaulted Sundar Malekudiya in Neriya village in Belthangadi will be arrested at the earliest. A team headed by ASP has been formed in this regard, he informed.

Adivasi Hakkugala Horata Samithi, Belthangadi, president Shekhar complained that after the assault on Sundar Malekudiya the Circle Inspector and Social Welfare Officer had not visited the spot. And exploitation of Dalits in Belthangadi was on the rise.

“The tribals in the region are restricted from using three public roads and some private entrepreneurs have barricaded the roads in Neriya. And are not even allowed to draw water from the stream,” Shekar added. SP said the way of dealing with civil cases will be different and guidelines towards the training of police personnel in this regard will be issued soon. Dalit leaders also complained that in Belthangadi, the last taluk level SC/ST meet was conducted at GP office, which is 25-30 km away from SC/ST colonies and in the evening.

For which the SP said steps have been taken to conduct SC/ST grievance meet in taluk level along with visits. And directed the police officials concerned to ensure that the meet is conducted at the SC/ST colony.

Shekhar further accused that a lot of corrupt practices were in place in the district prison and the police were collecting Rs 100 to 1,000 from the visitors. He also charged Kadaba police station EC with corruption.

Vasanthi from Nellikaru village complained that two months before the MLA sent her out of the meeting hall uttering harsh words, in the presence of officers while she had gone to meet the MLA at his office, to ask for the pending compensation amount towards her rehabilitation. She had come out of the National park during 2010. “False information was provided when she filed an RTI application and the MLA did not give his respose. A complaint has already been submitted to the SP in this regard,” she added.

Responding to a complaint, the SP said eight cases have been registered against moneylenders in the district.

Additional SP Vincent Shanthakumar was present.