Mangaluru : Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police (SP) S.D. Sharanappa on Wednesday made a fervent appeal before the Legislative Committee on Women and Child Development to prevail upon the government to strengthen the police force in the district.

The shortage of personnel has severely affected investigation in to and prosecution of criminal cases, including those against women and children, the SP told the committee which was reviewing progress of welfare schemes of the government here.

For a population of more than 10 lakh, the district police has a strength of just 570, an average 57 personnel for one lakh population. This is just about half of the state average of 100 personnel per one lakh population, Mr. Sharanappa said.

He said the district has been witnessing increasing incidents of communal violence and such other law and order problems. In such a situation, more number of personnel would help the force to ensure peace in the region. The district police has sought at least 323 additional personnel and the committee should ensure that the government sanctions the demand, he said.

Mr. Sharanappa said at least 40 per cent of time of the police force in the district is used for maintaining routine law and order. This has hit the efficiency of investigation in to criminal cases, the SP said. Responding to a question on ‘love jihad’ by member Jayamala Ramachandra, Mr. Sharanappa said he was not aware of any such incident. No such cases have been registered, he added.