MANGALORE: Now, netizens in Dakshina Kannada can be in touch with the police department in the district through its official blog site, www.spdk.blogspot.com. The site was launched by the district police on Thursday to promote transparency in administration and interaction with the public and the media.

It is expected to be a precursor to the launch of the official website of the department.

B. Dayananda, Superintendent of Police, came up with the idea of using an Internet tool to get across the official perspective to people as efforts to launch a departmental website were delayed. Mr. Dayananda said the Dakshina Kannada district police has its own standing among the units of the State Police Department.

It is a communally sensitive district and they are always on their toes.

The media plays a vital role in disseminating information among in a major law and order situation, he pointed out.

The weblog of the Dakshina Kannada police, which is the first of its kind in the State, has been launched in view of the directive to departments to use e-governance in their routine administrative matters, he said. Users can send their comments on matters posted on the blog site and use the site as a direct channel of communication with Mr. Dayananda. Mr. Dayananda said news about accidents and crime and investigation has wide readership. "The fact that the media here is so well informed on happenings in our circles makes it important for us to quickly give our version of events," he said.

``It is in our interest to provide the official version to the media. Given the competition that prevails in the print and electronic media, we often read or see distorted versions of events. This only causes confusion,'' Mr. Dayanand said. The advantage of having a blog is that we can update it from a cyber café, unlike a website, where making changes requires some expertise, he added.

Important matters pertaining to the Dakshina Kannada police will be posted regularly on the weblog.

Although the site is in English, a Kannada interface has been provided.

A user has to download the Kannada font by clicking on a link provided on the blog page in an easy process. There is also a separate link to enable the media to download high-resolution photographs for use.

The site gives Mr. Dayanand's contact numbers.

One can look for recent departmental publications in the archives. "We will update the blog site at least twice a day, once in the morning and once late in the evening," he said.

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