Karnataka Govt to Constitute Special Action Force in Three Districts to Tackle Communal Incidents

New Delhi: Following the orders of the Karnataka government, a special action force will be constituted to tackle communal incidents, comprising personnel from the anti-Naxal force.

The special action force will be established in Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga and Udupi districts and will have three companies, reported Deccan Herald.

The decision to constitute the special action force was taken after the murder of Abdul Rahim in Dakshina Kannada earlier this week. The police have arrested three people – Deepak (21), Prithviraj (21) and Chintan (19)  – all residents of Bantwal taluk for the murder.

According to Dakshina Kannada SP Yatish N. Deepak had contacted Rahim over phone, asked him to supply sand, and later, when he was unloading the sand he was attacked by the accused who were armed with swords.

Earlier this month, the district had also witnessed the murder of Hindu activist and history-sheeter Suhas Shetty.

According to the order issued by the Karnataka government on May 28, 248 personnel, including a senior deputy inspector general of police (DIGP) rank officer, will be a part of this force.

The role of the special action force will include having an intelligence unit comprising a technical cell for collecting and monitoring media and social media along with intelligence about hate speech, inflammatory incidents and communal incidents.

It will also create an early warning system through surveillance and human intelligence on potential communal violence, will undertake confidence-building measures through area dominance exercises and take measures to identify and monitor radicalisation.

The special action force will also take steps to deploy officers/personnel by the zonal IGP in cases of communal violence.

“The order has been issued to immediately set up and enforce the special action force. Necessary help and aid will be provided and needed steps will be taken by the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG & IGP). The three districts are considered very sensitive. Anyone who incites communal violence won’t be spared, and action will be initiated against them as per the law,” said Karnataka home minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday (May 29).

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