Mangaluru – In a major step to curb communal unrest and ensure peace in the region, the Karnataka government has officially launched a Special Action Force (SAF) unit named the Communal Violence Control Force in Mangaluru. The dedicated unit was inaugurated by State Home Minister G. Parameshwara at the District Police Parade Ground, in the presence of several dignitaries and senior police officials.

The move comes amid rising concerns over communal tensions, serial revenge killings, mob lynchings, and stabbing incidents that have recently shaken the coastal Karnataka and Malnad regions, particularly in Mangaluru, Udupi, and Shivamogga.

Addressing the gathering, HM Parameshwara emphasized the need for the force in communally sensitive districts, asserting that maintaining peace in Mangaluru would contribute to harmony across the state. He also stated that the unit could be expanded statewide if required and called on the public to cooperate fully with the SAF’s mission.

The SAF is a rapid-response unit, comprising 248 personnel selected from the existing Anti-Naxal Force (ANF). These officers will now serve in three specially created companies based in Udupi, Shivamogga, and Mangaluru.

The SAF’s responsibilities include:

  • Setting up an Intelligence Unit with a technical cell to monitor media, social platforms, and intelligence inputs.

  • Tracking hate speech and identifying provocative or radical content.

  • Creating an early-warning system for potential communal incidents.

  • Conducting outreach and confidence-building in sensitive communities.

    • The Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the zone will oversee SAF deployments during communal flare-ups.

    The decision underscores the Congress-led government’s commitment to law and order in regions vulnerable to sectarian violence.

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