SAF launched to prevent communal violence, a first in the country

MANGALURU

A Special Action Force (SAF) has been set up to prevent communal violence in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Shivamogga districts, with Mangaluru as the focus, and will start functioning from Friday. This SAF team was flagged off by Home Minister G Parameshwar on Friday. This is the first organization set up in the country to prevent communal violence.

Communal hatred incidents continue to occur in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Shivamogga districts. In particular, serial killings are taking place in Dakshina Kannada district due to communal hatred. Communal hatred has created a situation in Dakshina Kannada district where people have to live in fear, and in this context, SAF has been established and mobilized for operations.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Home Minister Parameshwar said that the establishment of a force to prevent communal hatred is the first of its kind in the country. When communal hatred incidents occurred, we used to take various steps to prevent it. But realizing that it was not preventing communal hatred incidents, it was decided to establish the SAF and take strict action, he said. There will be 78 staff in each of the three districts.

An office for the SAF has been opened near the ground behind the city police commissionerate office in Mangaluru. The office was inaugurated by Assembly Speaker UT Khader, Home Minister G Parameshwar, and district in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.

Sudhir Kumar Reddy, who was appointed as the new City Police Commissioner after the serial killings in Mangaluru, is the head of the SAF force. He will serve as the DIGP of the Special Task Force.

Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister Parameshwar said that a special task force has been started with the aim of maintaining peace. “Although efforts were made to maintain peace in a friendly manner, it did not work. This is why this has been done. I am confident that it will not be of any use. If people understand, the need for this will decrease. We have told them what steps should be taken to maintain peace. We will reduce the number of ANF. We have kept some personnel to operate if naxals come here from North India,” he said.