'Legal awareness needed to check atrocities against SC, STs'

The city police conducted the monthly SC, ST grievances meeting in the city recently. Police Commissioner M Chandra Sekhar said action would be taken based on the suggestions received at the meeting.

A number of suggestions related to traffic issues and the problems of SC/ST community students in colleges were received.

Dalit leader Raghuveer Sootarpete said Dalit students and teachers face the same problems like research scholar Rohith Vemula faced in Hyderabad Central University. Many students do not have knowledge about Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The police should organise legal awareness camps for the members of Dalit communities and students to create awareness in this regard. Many times, problems crop up due to lack of awareness on laws to protect them, he added. 

Another leader Sadashiv Urwastore said the staff at the toll gate at Surathkal are misbehaving with the general public and are collecting additional amount as toll.

When Dalit leaders demanded an impartial probe into the suicide of Madapura D Chennamma Pre-university College principal Sudesh, DCP Shantharaju said the case has been handed over to Suntikoppa police for investigation.

Dalit leader Lingappa Nanthoor alleged that ganja is being sold at Thanneerbavi area and men, posing as transgenders, are harassing public at the service bus stand.

Sadashiva Urwastore and Anand Haleyangady said the temporary location of Mangaluru North traffic police station at Honnakatte poses ineffective handling of cases in their jurisdiction.

180 constables for City
DCP Dr Sanjeev Patil said 180 constables would be join the city police commissionerate after six months. The constables have been selected and they are undergoing undergoing training in Dharwad and Bengaluru, he added.

Though the sanctioned strength to the city commissionerate is 1,791, as many as 787 posts are lying vacant. Out of 1,034 civil police, 124 positions are vacant. The sanctioned City Armed Reserve strength is 519, but only 128 are functioning. Out of the 35 sanctioned for wireless, 24 are yet to be filled and 13 posts of ministerial staff are vacant out of the 44 sanctioned posts.