<p>Bengaluru: The state government will operationalise 33 police stations to exclusively deal with cases of atrocities against SC/STs on April 14, which is Ambedkar Jayanti. </p>.<p>This move will augment the powers of the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) and enable it to investigate cases at a time when Karnataka is grappling with low conviction rates in SC/ST atrocity cases.</p>.<p>However, this comes two years after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in his 2023-24 Budget, announced that the functioning of the DCRE would be made more effective. </p>.BJP's rath yatra to mark 100 yrs of Ambedkar's visit to Nippani.<p>Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa confirmed to DH that the stations would be operationalised on April 14.</p>.<p>“This is a historic decision of the Cabinet for the protection of the rights of Dalits,” he added. </p>.<p>While Bengaluru will have two stations, all other districts will get one station each.</p>.<p><strong>Counter complaints</strong></p>.<p>The move comes at a time when data from the Social Welfare Department revealed that counter complaints have been filed in 28% (3,118 out of 10,961 cases) of atrocity cases in five years (2020-24).</p>.<p>This had drawn the ire of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who lashed out at the police for “weakening” atrocity cases during a meeting in January this year.</p>.<p><strong>Low conviction rate</strong> </p>.<p>As per government statistics, between 2012 and 2024, the conviction rate has merely been 2.47% in Karnataka. </p>.<p class="bodytext">A government order in 1975 mandated the DCRE to “collect intelligence and investigate” into violations of 14 points.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, in the absence of police stations, the DCRE was deprived of investigative powers and was confined to conducting inquiries. </p>.<p class="bodytext">With the operationalisation of these police stations, the DCRE ADGP will appoint an Investigating Officer (IO) to take over the case from the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), continue the investigation and submit the final report to the designated court.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Senior journalist and Dalit leader Indudhara Honnapura welcomed the decision, but hoped that these stations would function efficiently and not just remain “on paper”.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“These stations need adequate infrastructure and funds. Instead of turning them into places for punishment transfers, officers with social commitment should be posted there,” he said. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“Though historic, the move will have a meaning only when effectively implemented,” Honnapura said. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: The state government will operationalise 33 police stations to exclusively deal with cases of atrocities against SC/STs on April 14, which is Ambedkar Jayanti. </p>.<p>This move will augment the powers of the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) and enable it to investigate cases at a time when Karnataka is grappling with low conviction rates in SC/ST atrocity cases.</p>.<p>However, this comes two years after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in his 2023-24 Budget, announced that the functioning of the DCRE would be made more effective. </p>.BJP's rath yatra to mark 100 yrs of Ambedkar's visit to Nippani.<p>Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa confirmed to DH that the stations would be operationalised on April 14.</p>.<p>“This is a historic decision of the Cabinet for the protection of the rights of Dalits,” he added. </p>.<p>While Bengaluru will have two stations, all other districts will get one station each.</p>.<p><strong>Counter complaints</strong></p>.<p>The move comes at a time when data from the Social Welfare Department revealed that counter complaints have been filed in 28% (3,118 out of 10,961 cases) of atrocity cases in five years (2020-24).</p>.<p>This had drawn the ire of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who lashed out at the police for “weakening” atrocity cases during a meeting in January this year.</p>.<p><strong>Low conviction rate</strong> </p>.<p>As per government statistics, between 2012 and 2024, the conviction rate has merely been 2.47% in Karnataka. </p>.<p class="bodytext">A government order in 1975 mandated the DCRE to “collect intelligence and investigate” into violations of 14 points.</p>.<p class="bodytext">However, in the absence of police stations, the DCRE was deprived of investigative powers and was confined to conducting inquiries. </p>.<p class="bodytext">With the operationalisation of these police stations, the DCRE ADGP will appoint an Investigating Officer (IO) to take over the case from the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), continue the investigation and submit the final report to the designated court.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Senior journalist and Dalit leader Indudhara Honnapura welcomed the decision, but hoped that these stations would function efficiently and not just remain “on paper”.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“These stations need adequate infrastructure and funds. Instead of turning them into places for punishment transfers, officers with social commitment should be posted there,” he said. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“Though historic, the move will have a meaning only when effectively implemented,” Honnapura said. </p>
