Bangalore: Stung by two major communal clashes in Mangalore in less than two months, the State Government has decided to immediately push forward the proposal to form a police commissionerate in Mangalore.

Minister for Home, Law and Parliamentary Affairs M.P. Prakash told The Hindu here on Saturday that the State Government would take a decision on constituting the police commissionerate for Mangalore in another few days.

The proposal has been pending before the Government for quite some time.

The Home Minister said the situation at Mulky and adjoining areas had been brought under control within a short time.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Shankar Bidari, who was camping at Chikmagalur following the move by the Sangh Parivar to go ahead with the Datta Jayanti celebrations, is now in Mangalore.

The Government has also moved nearly 10 platoons of reserve police from the other districts to stem the violence and take precautionary steps. Curfew may be relaxed by the district authorities based on the situation although it has been clamped for three days from Friday.

Mr. Prakash said it was unfortunate that a culturally rich trade and port city like Mangalore had to bear the brunt of communal clashes at regular intervals.

Apart from strict police enforcement and stern measures against anti-social elements, the focus of the Government would also be on bringing about amity among different communities. It was quite obvious that certain forces were working at triggering clashes rather than working for communal harmony, he said.

Mr. Prakash, who was in Mysore, said he would be visiting Mangalore shortly and would call for a meeting of intellectuals, religious leaders, educationists, traders and elected representatives.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail