Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jun 12: The Karnataka government has appointed 248 police personnel to a newly formed Communal Violence Control Force aimed at curbing a spate of retaliatory killings and preventing communal unrest in the coastal and Malnad regions of the state. Mangaluru city police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy has been named the head of this special unit, according to a government order.

The force has been constituted to address rising communal tensions in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, as well as Shivamogga district in the Malnad region. The director general and inspector general of police (DG-IGP), Dr M A Saleem, has issued orders deploying 248 personnel, including three inspectors formerly with the state’s Anti-Naxal Force (ANF), to the new unit.

As per the directive, the Communal Violence Control Force will report to Western Range IGP Amit Singh until further orders. The unit will operate within the jurisdiction of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Shivamogga districts.

In recent years, the coastal region has witnessed a series of retaliatory killings that have disrupted public harmony and challenged the law and order system. Notable recent cases in Dakshina Kannada include the murders of Ashraf, Suhas Shetty, and Abdul Rehman. To combat such incidents and restore peace, the Karnataka government has established this dedicated force.

The home department plans to strengthen the force further in phases by appointing additional personnel. These members will be equipped with special powers, uniforms, and vehicles. Training for the deployed officers will be conducted at the police training centre in Karkala, Udupi district.