Security scenario of Karnataka in threat: Expert

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar )

February 19, 2013

Mangalore, Feb 19: Policemen today cannot say that they are concerned only with local issues. Many a times, incidents taking place at the national and international levels too have repercussions at the local level, calling the police to be alert, said Pratap Reddy, IGP (Western Range).

Speaking after inaugurating a workshop on 'National Security – Focus on Karnataka' organized by Institute of Contemporary Studies, Bangalore, at the Police Commissioner's office in Mangalore on Tuesday, Mr. Reddy said that unlike in the past, policemen cannot afford to neglect issues happening at national or international level as they have an impact locally too. The recent exodus of north-east students from Bangalore, Mangalore and Udupi is a classic example of how events happening somewhere else in the country had an effect locally, he said.

The western range is a hub of activity with respect to national security focus, Mr. Reddy said while stating that 26/11 has reinforced the need to remain aware of coastal infiltration.

Sharing his thoughts on the challenges the police force faces in maintaining security, Mr. Reddy said that unlike the armed forces, the police do not have a defined enemy. “We don't have enemies as such. We deal with deviant people from within the society itself which we are part of. The moment we cross the line, there is a huge uproar from the very same society. The armed forces are spared from the kind of criticism and uproar that we face and our operations are more complicated than those of the armed forces”, he said.

The IGP also pointed out on the occasion that although more policemen lose their lives while on duty compared to armed forces personnel, they do not get the recognition the armed forces get primarily because there is a huge gap between the way the operations of the army and the police are perceived.

Deliberating at the technical session, Prof. Bidanda Chengappa, Associate Professor, International Relations, Christ University, Bangalore, said that the Pakistani ISI threat is very much alive in Karnataka.

“Bangalore's industrial profile is phenomenal. It is the aeronautics capital of India besides being the defence science capital and a centre of science as it has the Indian Institute of Science. Karnataka has the presence of army, air force and navy. The ISI threat is very much alive in Karnataka. After electric fencing was laid along the border in states like Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat, the ISI has stopped infiltrating from that side of the border and started taking Karachi-Katmandu flights to enter India via the Nepal border. So is the case with Indo-Bangla border. Once they enter the Indian territory, they have the free ticket to go to any state as our rules are not that strict in this regard”, Mr. Chengappa said, stating that Karnataka police needs to be as vulnerable to ISI activities as the Jammu and Kashmir police today.

Left wing extremism threat is also catching up big time in Karnataka, Mr. Chengappa said, while stating that the overall security scenario of Karnataka looks to be in danger.

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SIT raids rape accused BJP MLA Munirathna’s residence, 15 other locations

News Network

September 28,2024

Bengaluru, Sep 28: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing charges against arrested Karnataka BJP MLA N. Munirathna Naidu, including allegations of rape, honey-trapping, and other offences, on Saturday conducted raids at his residence and 15 other locations across the city.

Sources confirmed that the raids were taking place at his Vyalikaval residence and other properties owned by the BJP MLA. The operation is being conducted by the SIT under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) led by ACP Kavitha.

The team is examining documents, electronic devices, and other materials related to the rape and honey-trapping case. The SIT is being supported by experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), with Superintendent of Police (SP) Sowmya Latha also participating in the search and inspection at Munirathna’s Vyalikaval residence.

According to sources, the raids were triggered by information provided by the victim, who alleged that Munirathna recorded footage of sexual assaults and used it to blackmail politicians and public servants, including IAS and IPS officers.

The victim reportedly revealed that she was used to entrap the woman who had lodged a rape case against a senior IFS officer. She was allegedly instructed to frame the rape victim in a drug peddling case.

The complainant told police that she was tasked with capturing compromising videos of the rape victim who had filed the case against the IFS officer. She claimed that, after several failed attempts to obtain the videos, the victim was drugged with sleeping pills, and obscene footage was recorded without her consent. Later, the IFS officer was bailed out from the charges.

Furthermore, the complainant has accused MLA Munirathna of raping her at his office within the state legislature, in his official vehicle, and at his godown. She has alleged that he recorded videos of these assaults.

Police sources also revealed that the victim in the MLA's case provided details of a plot involving sending HIV-infected women to Munirathna's targets in an attempt to ruin them politically and personally. She also disclosed the names of several politicians whom she had entrapped through honey-trapping.

The woman further claimed that Munirathna had threatened to have her son kidnapped and killed if she refused to comply with his demands. According to her, the MLA had a well-organised team dedicated to carrying out these honey-trapping operations, and she provided details about his close associates and relatives involved in the scheme.

Munirathna, who was in judicial custody following his arrest in the rape and honey-trap case, has now been taken into the custody of the SIT.

The MLA was transferred from Bengaluru Central Jail to the CID office on the night of September 24. The BJP legislator, however, has denied all the allegations, claiming they are false.

Karnataka Congress leader D.K. Suresh had alleged that Munirathna was trying to infect his adversaries with HIV and that the government should investigate the matter.

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