JOIN US'Police Training Academy may not come up in Kudremukh'
This is the statement Home Minister Dr V S Acharya himself made in Chikmagalur some time back. But the government is going against this. It is mulling over establishing the Academy at Sagara in Shimoga district which has not yet experienced the heat of Naxal menace, according to police sources.
“We had submitted a proposal suggesting Kudremukh as the place for the Academy. I don’t know anything about the government’s decision in the later days. I can’t comment on this being a government employee,” says Superintendent of Police M N Nagaraj.
When asked on the government’s decision to shift the Academy from Kudremukh to Sagara, Deputy Commissioner said: “A proposal had been submitted to the government suggesting that Kudremukh town can be used for police training.”
MLA D N Jeevaraj representing the Naxal-infested Koppa and Sringeri has not liked the government’s present decision. “Kudremukh has all necessary infrastructure to establish the Academy. It will also help police to counter Naxal menace. Public can also live with confidence,” he said.
MLA C T Ravi said he does not have any information on the shifting of the Academy to Sagara. He said he will soon discuss the development with the Chief Minister.
On the one hand, these two ‘influential’ MLAs in the ruling party express their ignorance over the development, and on the other, the Opposition parties have expressed their grouse against the decision.
“Kudremukh is the most appropriate place to have the Academy since it is central to Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Chikmagalur districts where Naxal activities galore. In other places, only the branches of the Academy can be established. The CM is eager to have all facilities in his home district,” criticised District Congress President M L Murthy.
“If the Home Minister says something, the Chief Minister does something else. The lack of coordination between the two is proved again now,” said CPM District Secretary Amjed.
‘No space in Shikaripura’
Even Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa did not want the Academy at Sagara. He was eager to have it in Shikaripura, his home town. But he could not avail 200 acre of land required for the Academy. Hence, the Academy is being shifted to Sagara, say sources in the Police department. However, Sathi Sundaresh who is struggling for justice for the unorganised labourers in the KIOCL has welcomed the government’s decision.
“Instead of establishing Police Training Academy, it is better to have a Forest University,” he said.