G. Parameshwara | Photo credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Friday announced that to strengthen law and order and curb communal clashes, the state government has deployed a Special Action Force (SAF) in Mandya district.
The decision is based on intelligence and the state’s efforts to prevent communal riots similar to those witnessed earlier in the coastal belt.
Dr. Parameshwara said the SAF has proved effective in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Shivamogga districts where more than 300 personnel have undergone specialized training. “Based on the reports from the field, we have extended the SAF to Mandya as well,” he said.
Dr. Highlighting the reforms introduced by the government, Parameshwara said Karnataka ranks first in the country in providing justice, scoring 6.78 out of 10 in the India Justice Report survey.
Close coordination between the police and the judiciary, especially in dealing with cases involving marginalized communities, contributed to the top rating, he said.
The state also became the first in India to set up 33 exclusive Directorate of Civil Rights police stations to handle cases under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
“The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is now housed in the Deposit Fraud and Criminal Intelligence Branch, while a separate CID branch has been created in Belthangady,” he noted.
The minister detailed the improvement in emergency response, noting that the 112 line received 24,000 calls a day and the police responded to around 1,400 of them. Bengaluru’s average response time was reduced to 6.59 minutes. Community policing initiatives such as “Police Manege” have achieved 95% coverage, helping to reduce fear of uniformed personnel.
He noted that around 9,000 AI cameras have been installed at major intersections in Bengaluru, adding to the seven lakh cameras already in place.
“The forensic science laboratory has been upgraded, which has accelerated the delivery of the report by two months,” noted Dr. Parameshwara.
According to the minister, cyber crime control has been strengthened with the appointment of an exclusive DGP, the first such post in the country, along with cyber crime police stations in all districts. The 1930 helpline now operated 24/7 with 66 officers.
“In 2022, 12,550 cases of cybercrime were registered. After the establishment of separate cybercrime police stations, 21,903 cases were registered in 2023 and 21,995 cases in 2024. In 2025, 13,000 cases have been reported so far,” he said.
About prison reforms Dr. Parameshwara said an IPS officer has been appointed as the superintendent of the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail here and a centralized command center will soon monitor all state jails. He also warned of severe disciplinary action against corrupt police officers.
Published – 05 Dec 2025 21:26 IST
