Crimes in Bangalore, Mangalore worrisome, says chief minister

Bangalore : Increasing crimes, including a spate of murders in Bangalore and an attack on youth in Mangalore recently, forced Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to admit Wednesday that they were a cause for worry.

“Recent incidents of crimes in Bangalore and Mangalore are indeed a cause for worry. Strict instructions have been given to the police to prevent such incidents,” Shettar said in his speech on Independence Day.

Addressing the state after unfurling the tricolour and inspecting the guard of honour at the Field Marshal Manekshaw parade ground in the city, Shettar said his government was committed to creating a secure and peaceful environment to enable the people live peacefully with security.

“I appeal to the public to be vigilant and cooperate with the police to avoid crimes in their neighbourhood. Police have handled the incidents timely and prevented the situation from worsening,” Shettar said a day after state governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj expressed concern over the increasing number of crimes and the deteriorating law and order in the state capital.

“Maintaining law and order is our foremost priority. Though peace prevails and Maoist activities have been checked, barring a few minor incidents, no major disturbances have occurred in the state,” Shettar asserted.

State Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok, who also holds the home portfolio, said: “Barring a few incidents of crime, there is no problem of law and order in the city. Police have arrested culprits quickly. There is no cause for citizens to panic.”

Shettar’s reference to the law and order situation in his I-Day address gains significance as murder of senior citizens, homemakers and anti-social elements over the last two weeks rocked Bangalore, while activists of a pro-Hindu outfit attacked college boys and girls June 28 in Mangalore, about 350 km from here, in the guise of moral policing as the victims were suspected to have been holding a rave party.