Dr V S Acharya Inaugurates New Office of Kaup Circle Inspector

Udupi, Apr 10: “The state has seen major growth in every sphere over the past five years chiefly due to the maintenance of law and order,” said district-in-charge minister Dr V S Acharya.
He was speaking after inaugurating the office of Kaup circle inspector which was built at a cost of Rs 14 lac during a function held here on Sunday April 10.

Dr Acharya announced that the state administration is committed to providing buildings, vehicles, armaments, and personnel to the police department as it intends to bring in reforms in the departmental set up.
Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon, in his presidential address, urged the state administration to bring a few areas of Kaup legislative assembly constituency that come under the jurisdiction of Karkala sub-division into Udupi district. He also urged them to provide vehicles to Kaup and Shirva police stations. (Daijiworld)

17/18 September 2010

Need of the Hour: New residential complex for Police Personnel

MANGALORE September 12, 2010: Home minister of Karnataka Dr. V.S. Acharya today announced the release of Rs. 6 crores for constructing a new housing colony for the Policemen of the Mangalore Commissionearate.

He was in the city to participate in the Ganesha Chauthi at the Police lines today. Dr. Acharya who expressed exasperation at the way the Police families here living in the dilapidated police quarters told Press that "I always wanted to visit the police lines ever since I took charge of the Home ministry. I must thank the Police Commissioner Mr. Seemanth Kumar Singh and Mr. Yogish Bhat MLA of Mangalore for bringing me here. I know firsthand information how the policemen of Mangalore and their families live in these police quarters which belong to the Tippu Sultan age".

It is appalling how they live in the dilapidated buildings in the police lines, the buildings on the northern side were so dilapidated that they are fit to demolish and the families there should be shifted to a new housing colony until such a time the new multi storied quarters come up in their place.

“I have released Rs. 6 crores for constructing five blocks each having 24 double bedroom flats for the police personnel in the Mangalore commissionerate. These three storied buildings will provide good dwelling to the policemen and their families, with individual drinking water facility with quality power supply," Acharya said.

Dr. Acharya had also brought along with him the top officials of the Police Housing Corporation who has been directed to plan the new housing colony for Policemen in Mangalore.

Dr. Acharya told that the present colony will have to be pulled down to make way for the new colony. He observed that the policemen who spend their life outside their houses most of the time should get at least a proper place to rest after coming from the grueling day on the field. Some of them will be on law and order, crime and traffic duties, but when they come back home they should be able to live like normal citizens, in the present colony it was not possible as their spouses will have to fetch water from a distance and heat it up over a stove of kerosene of gas to provide their tired husbands a decent bucket of water for bath. In the new colony that, and other comforts of home will be available for the policemen enabling them to resume their duties afresh in the morning next day,” he said.

Dr. Achraya said even the housing colony at Shaktinagar will be revamped at a cost of Rs. 35 lakhs. Dr. Acharya earlier had lunch at the 'Samaradhane' at the Ganesha pendal at the police lines and offered poojas to lord Ganapathy.

Later speaking to the media Dr. Acharya said the Kerala based Madani who masterminded the Bangalore blasts, had links in the political circles and in coming days his links will be exposed.(Mangalorean)

Learn to respect policemen, else face the heat

Published: Friday, Sep 10, 2010, 8:48 IST
By Hemanth Kumar | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

After several instances of policemen being assaulted by members of the public were reported recently, city police commissioner Shankar M Bidari issued stern warnings, saying stringent action would be taken against those attacking his men.
But is that the best way to approach this problem? Is there some underlying problem of which the attacks are merely a symptom?

Home minister VS Acharya admitted, in an interview with DNA, that policemen too need training in dealing appropriately with the people they are meant to protect. Those misbehaving with police personnel, however, will get the ‘treatment’ they deserve, the home minister said.

What have you planned to bring those who attack policemen on duty to book? And how would you explain the recent spurt in such instances?
There need be no leniency shown to those who feel free to attack policemen on duty. We will take measures to ensure that such attacks do not happen. Most of the assaults have happened late in the night, and the attackers are mostly people driving home drunk, who have been hauled up. These are miscreants who ought to be taught to cooperate with police personnel who are only doing their duty. We’ll take strong action against them.

These incidents are cause for concern. Do you think they have an impact on the morale of the police force?
If people who attack policemen are let off easily, it would send out a message about the police force being bullied. People will begin to look with contempt at policemen if we fail to deal with these miscreants sternly. We cannot ignore such attacks, as it would be detrimental to the image and morale of the policemen.

Are you implying that the policemen are never at fault?
Policemen are not saints. They too are human and sometimes make mistakes. What I am saying is that all instances of attacks on our men in uniform will be scrutinised. Corrective measures will be taken.

Do you have a notion of what the solution to this problem might be?
There should, as far as possible, be no lapse on the part of the policemen. To train our men adequately, we will be bringing out miniature police diaries for people in each district. The diaries will contain phone numbers of police officials. If anyone faces harassment at the hands of a policeman, he or she should know how such misbehaviour could be reported, and the right channels through which action can be taken in such cases. Officers will be available on phone round-the-clock.

Has something like that ever been tried?
We launched an initiativein Dakshina Kannada. Soon, all districts will have it. We have also started orientation programmes for police personnel.

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Acharya to journos: Go easy on the cops

Aug. 17: Home minister V.S. Acharya on Tuesday made an unusual request to the media: Don’t haul cops over the coal as it will demoralise them.

Speaking after inaugurating a new building of the district home guards training centre here, he said the media should motivate policemen to work with enthusiasm instead of criticising them through news reports for even the small mistakes that they may commit.

He said police personnel were like “Lord Hanuman”, “endowed with a lot of energy to do several things at the same time”. Therefore, the media should awaken their strength by encouraging them instead of criticising them.

“There is a need to infuse confidence among the policemen and encourage every step that they have taken for a good cause as they are expected to work day and night,” he said.

Hinting that the state government will introduce a group insurance facility for personnel of home guards department, Dr Acharya said the government is likely to hike the honorarium for the personnel. (Deccan Chronicle)

02.08.2010: Hubli Diary

26.07.2010: Crime rate in Kodagu low in State: Acharya

There are 16 police stations in Kodagu, The is no move to open additional police stations here

‘State will have 30 new police stations by 2011'

Madikeri: There was no move to open additional police stations in Kodagu at present as the 16 existing ones were enough, Home Minister V.S. Acharya has said.

He was speaking to presspersons during his brief stopover here en route to Mangalore on Saturday.

Replying to a question, Dr. Acharya said the crime rate in Kodagu was low compared to other districts. The three police divisions — Madikeri, Virajpet and Somwarpet — functioned efficiently as well, he said.

To another question, Dr. Acharya said border (Kerala) areas such as Makutta could be vulnerable to crimes and officials had been told to keep strict vigil on the movement of vehicles, to and fro. A meeting involving the police, revenue, forest and intelligence wing of the police had been held in this regard.

Dr. Acharya stated that as many as 30 additional traffic police stations would be set up in the State during 2011-12, including one in Kushalnagar in the district. Vehicle congestion had increased manifold in Kushalnagar town in recent times.

When told about certain activities which had affected peace in and around the Tibetan camp near Kushalnagar, Dr. Acharya said that he was not aware of any such incidents.

The police both on the Kodagu side (Kushalnagar) and Koppa (Mysore) were capable of tackling such situations, he added. (TheHindu)

We'll build a strong police force: Acharya

Hailing the success of government programmes in naxal-affected areas, Home Minister V.S. Acharya said here on Saturday that Karnataka did not figure in the list of naxal-affected States. Hence, the State had not been invited for the meeting of Chief Ministers to discuss with the naxal problem, convened by the Prime Minister.

However, the Government would continue combing operations in some parts of the State, he said.

Dr. Acharya was speaking at the launch of the Police Control Room Vans (PCRV) and CCTV network in the city.

He said that Union Home Minister Chidambaram had expressed satisfaction over the law and order in the State.

The Government was committed to building a strong police force and modernising the department. The Chief Minister had earmarked enough funds for it. The Government planned to open 25 police stations, including eight traffic police stations by December, he said.

On the issue of unscientific road humps, Dr. Acharya said a special meeting of the Police, Urban Development and other departments concerned had been convened to discuss the issue. A decision would be taken soon to remove unscientific humps across the State and prevent fatal accidents, he added.

The Minister said that all districts in the State would have interceptor vehicles soon, to keep up with the increasing traffic. “At present, only 17 districts have interceptors, each costing Rs. 23 lakh,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs S. Suresh Kumar, who is the district-incharge, asked people to follow traffic rules.

Effective policing

The police upgraded security measures for the city on Saturday, with the launch of the PCRV and CCTV network.

Speaking on the occasion, Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal said the upgrade was aimed at effective policing.

A hi-tech van would be positioned at 14 different locations to respond quickly during an emergency. The multi-utility vehicles would be equipped with fire-fighting equipment, first-aid kit and necessary tools. As many as 42 closed circuit television cameras had been installed across the city to ensure the safety of the public, Mr. Agarwal said.

Director-General and Inspector-General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh and A.H. Vishwanath, MP, were present. (The Hindu)

24.07.2010

62 years of wait!

Dr V S Acharya Inaugurates City Police Commissioner’s Office

Inauguration Ceremony of D.K.Dist Police Commissioner's Office
by Honble Home Minister of Karnataka State Dr. V.S.Acharya & D.G. Ajay Kumar Singh
New Commissioner as Mr. Seemanth Kumar Singh.
Photos: Manju Neereshwallya

2 years of Governance, achievement

13.06.2010

Police officials gallantry awards

Karnataka Governor H. R. Bhardwaj has presented the awards to the policemen at a ceremony organised by the Home Department at Raj Bhavan to present medals to the distinguished police officials.

Medals for the years 2007 and 2008 were given to 55 police officials for their invaluable services. These included President’s police gallantry medals (for showing extra-ordinary courage and risking their own lives), President’s Distinguished Police Medals (for extra-ordinary efficiency and dedication over a period of time) and Police Meritorious Service Medals (for those who have completed 20 years of service and shown efficiency, commitment besides making achievements).

Variable Message Signboard at Bangalore

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Police IT: tool for a future ready Police Force

BANGALORE: The state is all set to get a dedicated IT training school for its police force. The All India Police IT Training School will train them in IT-related applications to handle computerization process in the force.

Launching three software modules of `Police IT' here on Tuesday, home minister V S Acharya said: "In February, the Prime Minister and the Union home minister appreciated the progress in Karnataka's police IT programme. During this discussion, we proposed setting up of Police IT Training School in Bangalore.
They asked us to send a proposal and we did it. We will provide land for the project and the Centre will fund the scheme," he said.

"Though Karnataka was the first to start computerization of police force, other states were ahead of us. Now, after the completion of three modules, we have made a comeback," DG and IGP Ajai Kumar Singh said.

"The Centre has accepted Karnataka as one of the leading states in implementing Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) project, which aims to connect 14,000 police stations and 6,000 police officers across the country and also development of core application software, which can be customized by respective states. Now, we have been permitted to implement our own software -- Police IT," he said.

Currently, the software modules are being used by crime, law and order, and traffic sections. On Tuesday, modules for wireless, transport and armed reserve sections was launched, said IGP (crime and technical services) Sanjay Sahay, during his presentation on the website.

"Some of the requirements for installing the software are in place, which includes -- data centre, wide area network, anti-virus, asset management, trained manpower and help desk. More than 100 sessions have been conducted to train 4,000 personnel and 14,000 more need to be trained," he said.

What is Police IT? It is a programme to computerize the police department. There are 12 modules, which will be used for day-to-day policing and by 2010, the entire administration will be computerized

The modules include - crime, law and order, traffic, administration, finance, stores, armed reserve, motor transport, training, wireless, forensic science laboratory and executive information system

IT giant Wipro is assisting the department in developing the software and training the personnel. Plan to computerize the force was conceptualized in 1994, but the process was initiated by ADGPs ST Ramesh and Kucchanna Srinivas in 2004.

(Report: TOI, Photo:Daijiworld)

Good news for police dogs in Karnataka

BANGALORE: There is good news for dogs attached to the police department in Karnataka: their daily food allowance may go up by more than two-and-half times.Home Minister V S Acharya told the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that a proposal to enhance the food allowance prescribed for each dog from Rs 70 to Rs 177 per day is under the government's consideration.

"A programme to give scientifically latest training to dogs has been taken up for detecting crimes, explosives and drug items", he said in reply to a question from Haris N A (Congress).Police department has a sanctioned strength of 148 dogs but there is a vacancy of 24 now which is being filled according to requirement. Acharya said the financial delegation power of Rs 5,000 given to heads of departments earlier has now been enhanced to Rs 10,000 and, as a result of this, the state police department can purchase dogs of good breeds now. (PTI/Mangalorean)

7th Batch passing out Parade @ Udupi: Kannada report