Security to be tightened to check crime, instances of assault in DK: UTK

Mangalore, Jan 4: Mangalore city being a hub of colleges and universities, the police department, educational institutions and elected political representatives have to plan hand-in-hand in order to build a safe and secure environment in the district, said Health Minister U T Khader.

Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday, he said that several anti-social elements were trying to spoil the atmosphere of the society in the region. In order to check this, an action plan will be devised and several measures will be taken, he said.

Intelligence police will be increased in the police department who will keep an eye on habitual offenders in the district. A police outpost will be set up in the surroundings of university campuses along with regular patrolling by the police in areas where the density of students is more. In places such as Natekal near Konaje where there are several in-roads, a police kiosk will be set up which will be active at night, he said.

The police will also collect details of stores and eating establishments functioning near colleges and universities, and habitual offenders will be discouraged from loitering around them. CCTV cameras will be fixed in all junctions. Institutional security personnel will also be noted, who will have close connection with the police department, he said.

In addition, the managements of educational institutions have to list students who have come from overseas, other states or faraway places, and provide safety guidelines for such students, he said.

He said that there was a need to give a stern message to discourage offenders and peace-disrupting elements. Overall, anti-social elements and habitual offenders will not be encouraged, he stated.

With regard to the police department being understaffed, he said that the first priority would be to fill the 300 vacant posts in the department.

He also said that the help of Mangalore city police commissioner had been enlisted to have regular communication with the jail authorities so as to ensure that offenders would be taken to task.

In cases of assault on women or youth where the victims do not come forward to register complaints, the department has been instructed to register them suo moto, he added.

He urged the police department to see to it that the accused in the Deralakatte case do not obtain bail easily.