Karnataka - Mangalore   

‘Moral policing has tarnished city’s image’

Ajai Kumar Singh

MANGALORE: Director-General and Inspector-General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh has said that moral policing has affected Mangalore’s reputation as a peaceful city and promised stern action against those responsible for such acts.

Responding to concerns raised at an interactive meeting with the people here on Tuesday, he said the menace had done severe damage to the city’s reputation.

Pointing out that there were fundamentalists in all faiths and that they had to be kept under check, Mr. Singh said political parties, religious leaders and the people in general should join hands to defeat such forces. Misguided people in each religion should be identified and isolated. On their part, the police would attempt to work closely with the people, he added.

Several people pointed out that the “moral police” were targeting young people in an effort to prevent inter-community interaction.

Stating that these elements behaved as if they had the legal authority to do so, councillor Mariamma Thomas said their actions had caused deep anguish among parents. Alleging that these elements were growing stronger than the police, she sought an environment wherein the youth could freely interact with one another.

Badriya College principal Ismail N. said the “moral police” had embarrassed society, and sought to know what action the police planned to take against them. Sabeeha Fathima, a student, said some educational institutions were preventing Muslim women from wearing the “burkha.”

Muslim Traders’ Association president Ali Hasan regretted that the real culprits during communal riots were being let off by the police. The participants also pointed out that many police officials had been working in the same police stations for the past many years owing to which they had become part of the systemic rot.

Nagarika Hitarakshana Samiti president Hanumanth Kamath said that many concrete roads here were being used for parking vehicles, leading to traffic jams. Leader of an autorickshaw drivers’ union Vishnumurthy said parking of vehicles on the road between Balamatta Circle and Jyothi Circle was causing traffic congestion.

Principal of the Government Pre-University College Elvira Philomena demanded that the road near the college be declared a “no-horn area” as the noise pollution was affecting classes.

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