Mangaluru: Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza stated on Thursday that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed support for initiating reforms in the police department to address rising communal tensions in Dakshina Kannada. D’Souza had met the CM a day earlier and briefed him on the deteriorating law and order situation in the region.
“I urged the Chief Minister to take stern action against hate-filled speeches by right-wing leaders and to reform the local police system to align with the government’s vision,” D’Souza said. He welcomed the government’s move to establish Special Action Forces (SAF) in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Shivamogga, stating it would help suppress communal violence and provocative rhetoric.
He further advocated for the formation of an Anti-Communal Task Force, proposing Mangaluru as its headquarters. The MLC acknowledged that the recent killings exposed lapses in the functioning of the police, suggesting they were not aligned with the government’s broader secular and peace-driven agenda.
D’Souza also informed that District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao would visit the district and chair a peace meeting. He rejected BJP allegations about Rao’s neglect, asserting the minister has consistently attended Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) reviews and is dedicated to the district’s progress.
Expressing concern over the mass resignation of Muslim leaders from the Congress, D’Souza said efforts are underway to win them back.
He also visited the family of Abdul Rahiman, the slain pickup driver in Bantwal, and assured them of justice.
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