Bengaluru: The state government is mulling over introducing buses with toilets for Karnataka State Reserved Police (KSRP) force in view of difficulties faced by women constables when deployed to restore law and order, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking after flagging off as many as 102 KSRP vehicles on Friday at Vidhana Soudha, he said that police buses with such facility were available in many states including Rajasthan.

Siddaramaiah said the government has spent Rs 24 crore to procure modern KSRP vehicles using state and central government grants. He emphasised on strengthening law and order in the state for safety and security of citizens.

“Police have the daunting task to ensure law and order, crime control, and safety of people. Make sure that lawbreakers do not go unpunished and tormentors are brought to book,” Siddaramaiah said.

“Citizens expect a lot from police “Your conduct should make people respect the law of the land,” he said. On income tax raids on Minister for Small Scale Industries Ramesh Jarkiholi’s residence, Siddaramaiah said he has asked for a report on the issue. “I will take a call after getting the report.’’

Home Minister G Parameshwara said that after a gap of 16 years, the state government has purchased a large fleet of KSRP buses.

“These are custom-made vehicles for police with adequate space for keeping equipment and weapons,’’ he said.

Amid speculation that senior IPS officer Roopak Kumar Dutta would be made the next Director General and Inspector General of police of the state, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he has written to the Centre to repatriate Dutta to Karnataka. Dutta was serving in the Central Bureau of Investigation as additional director and was a contender for the CBI Director’s post.

However, he was moved out of the CBI and posted as Special Secretary (Internal Security), Home Ministry. Dutta is the senior most among top four contenders – followed by Neelamani N Raju, H C Kishore Chandra and M N Reddy. Dutta, who is senior to incumbent DG and IG Om Prakash, preferred to go on a deputation to the CBI when the latter was selected the state police chief.