Mangaluru : Superintendent of Police Dr Sharanappa has expressed serious concern about the dearth police personnel in Dakshina Kannada. As per the norms there should be 250 police personnel for every lakh people. At present, it is around 100 in the state and just 55 in the district, he said.

Speaking on the sidelines of SC/ST grievances meeting, in his office here, on Tuesday, Dr Sharanappa said there are 500 policemen working in Dakshina Kannada which has a population around 10 lakh.

Crime rate has increased by 10 to 15 per cent in this year. So, officials have burdened with over duty. A proposal has been sent to the government to sanction 323 additional staff. However, the process of recruitment, training and deployment to stations would take years. So, without the cooperation of public it is impossible to maintain peace in society, he said.

After two decades of effort, the state government has sanctioned a police station to Dharmasthala, upgrading the police outpost. Around 500 FIRs and 100 unnatural death cases are being registered in Belthangady station every year. A traffic police station has been sanctioned to Bantwal as well, he said.

For a demand to set up a police outpost at Charmadi, Aladangady and a traffic police station at Belthangady, the SP said that the government has put certain conditions to start new police outposts.

Meanwhile, Dr Sharanappa said that e-beating has been started in nine police station limits from past 27 days.

In the meeting, Guruvappa of Kadaba alleged that during recent communal clashes in Uppinangady and surrounding areas, few youth said to be from a Hindu outfit, have manhandled Dalit youth at Perabe.

Though complaint was given against 13 people with DySP Bhaskar Rai, no action has been taken. Dalits are not getting from justice from police, he alleged.

The SP said in connection with Uppinangady incident 37 cases have been registered. The department is doing its best.

DSS leader Anand said in Markaje village of Sullia taluk few have cheated around Rs 37 lakh to 30 Dalit families under Ashraya housing scheme of the state government using fake signatures and forgery documents.

According to the information got through RTI, it is being done from past 10 years. Complaint will be submitted to police as well as to the Deputy Commissioner.

“We are ready to protest in front of DC office, if we dont meet justice,” he said. Dalit leader Shekhar said though only around 15 per cent of Dalits have farming land in the district, they are undergoing harassment not only by public, but also from police.
In Kanyadi of Belthangady taluk police are threatening 40 Dalit families to leave space to construct road to forest.

Even in Mogru, farmers have to leave path for others in between their farm as per the direction of police though there is alternative solution, he said.

Guruvappa said that Govardhan who belonged to upper caste has manhandled Bhavani near Mahalingeshwra Temple in Puttur.

ASI had denied to register any complaint and directed to solve the issue by mediation. Though atrocity case was registered later, the accused has not been arrested, he said.