Mangaluru, Nov 25: It is important not to remain mute spectators against anti-social elements, irrespective of their religion or organisation, which indirectly promote communal or untoward incidents and cause disruption of peace in the society, said Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim.
Addressing a peace committee meeting convened by the Dakshina Kannada district administration at the DC’s office here on Wednesday, he said that the silence of responsible people with respect to untoward incidents or communal clashes occurring in the district, was akin to promoting such incidents. People should come forward and cooperate with the district administration and police department in case of such incidents, to ensure that the culprits do not get away with the crime, he said, informing that all illegal banners and posters in public places would be removed and action would be taken against those violating the guidelines.
Warning people of action against provocation or inflammatory posts on social media, Mr Ibrahim said that such posts circulating on social media would be strictly monitored henceforth. Several youth in the district are becoming susceptible to anti-social elements and illegal activities, which will affect their chances of getting employment or deprive them of passports and other opportunities in the future. This sporadic quarrelling in the name of religion and communities has to stop if there should be peace as well as law and order in the district, he said.
‘Permanent solutions for peace in Dakshina Kannada’
Superintendent of Police Dr S D Sharanappa said that the intention of the peace meeting was to come up with permanent solutions for a peaceful atmosphere in the district in the future. “There is a need for deep introspection for all members in the society and consider our individual responsibilities, based on which, we can act accordingly. It is our responsibility to create a positive and non-fearful atmosphere for the next generation to grow. Parents also should take responsibility of their children and see that they do not deviate towards criminal activities, he said, appealing for suggestions from the concerned that would help prevent further untoward incidents from occurring in the district permanently.
Speaking in the peace meeting, DK Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said that most untoward incidents in the district stemmed from distorted messages on communal or religious issues circulating on social media such as Facebook and Whatsapp groups, which had to be controlled, especially during tense situations.
Another participant appealed that incidents of ‘immoral rowdyism’ in the name of protecting cattle and college students should be curbed, as they gave rise to tensed atmosphere where such incidents occurred. Such incidents are a part of devious plans, which should be prevented. In addition, local television channels should be disallowed from airing discussions on communal and other controversial issues, he said.
Fr Joseph from Belthangady said that forums to promote peace and harmony should be formed in all villages and gram panchayats, where regular peace meetings should be held to promote religious harmony.
Saif Sultan of Hope Foundation, an NGO, said that youth should be discouraged from loitering in groups after dusk. This is a disturbing problem which can lead them to indulge in illegal activities and should be curbed. In the same way, the communal mindset that is seeping in to schools and colleges should be countered by engaging students in competitions such as debates and discussions, he said.
Muslim leader Hameed Kandak said that the district administration should not give opportunities from protest meetings and public demonstrations, as the demonstrations caused nuisance among the public, by blocking roads and encouraging incidents that would disrupt law and order in the region.
He also pointed out that in cases where the police department arrested accused in the wake of untoward incidents, certain religious outfits and political leaders exerted pressure on police officials and demanded their immediate release from police custody.
Other participants requested that the district administration should not respond to bandhs called by non-governmental organisations in Dakshina Kannada, since it would adversely affect students, citizens and traders in the district. Several participants urged for strict legal action against those who indulged in provocative speeches and promoted communal clashes.
Activist and ‘over-enthusiast’ Vidya Dinker urged monitoring of Yakshagana performances in the district, where subliminal messages promoting hatred against Muslims were being propagated to the audience during references to Asuras in Hindu mythology.
Organisations to be held responsible for future bandhs
Mr Sharanappa said that the police department was giving stress on community policing, taking into consideration the sensitivity of the district. Decoy traps and special watch have been taken up in rural areas of the district to curb activities such as ragging, eve teasing, immoral rowdyism and drug menace in colleges and outside. The police department has installed CCTV cameras in sensitive areas in the district and instructed all religious places including mosques, churches and temples to install CCTV cameras for prevention and detection of crime, he said.
In response to claims that the police department arrested innocent persons or targeted certain communities in the aftermath of communal or untoward incidents, he said that the concerned police officers did not arrest innocent persons as claimed. People have to remove this misconception from their minds, since the police department caught persons only after conducting preliminary investigation, he clarified.
In wake of the tense situation and subsequent bandh in Dakshina Kannada few days ago, Mr Ibrahim also said that the district administration would follow the Supreme Court directive on bandhs in the future, and hold the concerned party or organisation responsible for the bandh called by them.
ASP Vincent Shanthakumar, Zilla Panchayat CEO P I Sreevidya, president Asha Thimmappa, Additional DC Kumar and others were participated in the peace meeting.
DCP (Law & Order) Shantharaju appealed to the public not to react to provocative posts circulating through SMS or social media, without verifying their veracity. The local media outlets have also been requested not to telecast rumours on television and news channels as they can create confusion and fear among citizens, he said, adding that several cases had been booked against illegal drug peddlers and users in Mangaluru Police Commissionerate limits.
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