Serial Murders Pose Challenge For Govt In Poll-Bound Karnataka

Back-to-back murders in Dakshina Kannada district over the last 10 days have brought to light the pitiful state of law and order in Karnataka. Going by the state government’s statistics, there has been a drastic increase in violence, murders and organised attacks in the coastal districts in the last three years. It has prompted the government to unveil special police measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
According to a former state police chief, who previously worked as a superintendent of police in coastal districts, there has been a surge in organised attacks and murders in the state in the last three-four years, largely due to political reasons, and it appears that coastal Karnataka is being influenced by Kannur-style politics. About 150km from Mangaluru, Kannur in Kerala has a history replete with bloody feuds and revenge murders. Political murders have been rampant there through the decades, and most of the killings in the district were sparked by the bitter rivalry between the CPM and the RSS. “Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have been educational hubs, drawing students from far and wide over the last three or four decades. They have been providing students with a suitable ambience for learning and personality development because of the local culture. But the law and order situation in the region is getting worse and it could have a major impact on the local economy in the long run,” said Vishwanth Belliappa, an education expert. “It is the responsibility of the police force to put an end to these activities,” he added.
Satish Poojary, a long-time Mangaluru resident, admitted that there is a sharp spike in religious polarisation, not just between major and minority communities but also within the caste groups of Hindus, tearing apart the invaluable social and religious fabric of Tulunadu.