Mangaluru: District police chief Dr Sharanappa Shivananda Dhage had his first interact with the journos at the Mangalore Press Club, during the “Meet The Press” session. He had taken charge from outgoing superintendent of police Shantanu Sinha on a day the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Lok Sabha polls.
Dr Sharanappa addressing the media persons said, “Although I had served in Gulbarga as a SP for a while, but there is lot of difference between Gulbarga and Dakshina Kannada. Here in DK you have to deal with problems like Moral Policing, Naxalisim and communalism which are not prevalent in Gulbarga. But I have been thoroughly studying into all these problems, and I will try my best to tackle them in a very systematic and lawful way. Moral Police is a wrong term that everyone is using, we need to call it as “Immoral Rowdyism”- I have even told all the police personnel to use the term “Immoral Rowdyism” and not “Moral Policing”.
He further said, “Ever since I took charge, I have seen that Professionalism is maintained in the police department, and I have given more importance to that I had maintained strict policies and professionalism during my tenure in Gulbarga, and I have also implemented the same here in Dakshina Kannada. There will be continuity in policies that my predecessor Shantanu ushered in along with simultaneous focus on policing as well. Basic policing and ushering in greater professionalism in policing will be the other thrust areas, which could be done done with the public participation.”
A PhD holder from Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), Delhi, Sharanappa and a native of Khajuri in Aland taluk of Gulbarga district, said he will not buckle under political pressure and discharge his duties in a professional manner. He has served as a probationer in Tumkur and assistant SP in Sagar sub-division of Shimoga. He even said that if political pressure is put on him, he will simply walk out of his office.
Dr Sharanappa had proved his mettle in Gadag where the district police office and three police stations received the ISO 9001:2008 certification for people-friendly policing. The district police also received an award from the World Health Organization-Framework Convention on Tobacco Control for being the best policing unit in enforcing Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act. He said strategies will be formed for problems pertaining to the district including naxalism and growing undetected crimes. He said ISO certification here will be got by the department here by next month or so, since it was delayed a bit due to Panchayat elections.
“We have installed CCTVs in many places in the city, which would be useful in detecting crime and other unlawful activities. We have also made special teams to check on shops/petty shops whether they are selling tobacco products to the students. When a reporter asked about some of the most challenging cases he faced in DK district after he assumed office, he replied, “Regarding the Pushpalatha murder case in Uppinangady, it is yet to be cracked down. Few other cases like- in the Vittal rape case, two of the three accused were apprehended in Gujarath and brought down to Mangaluru; also regarding a case in Bantwal, the culprit was caught in Mumbai- so these are some of the few challenging case.”
When asked about the Sowjanya rape and murder case, Sharanappa said, “The case is in the hands of the CBI and they will be sleuthing into it. We don’t have any power or rights to interfere in that case since it is already under CBI investigation. But if CBI needs any assistance from our side we are ready to oblige. I am proud to say that Karnataka State Police are leading in conduct and professionalism when compared to police in other states. But many a times people are nervous to enter into police stations here out of fear of the police personnel- I will try my best to make our police departments people friendly and courteous.”
” We will be also adding few more police personnel to the department. Although the DySp post in Puttur is still vacant since six months, I am trying my best to find a right officer there. We are also conducting monthly meetings, with Thursday as Compliance day. Police Departments will be computerized, we have introduced Smart Fleet card, we have good team of doctors in the forensic department, but most of all we need public support for the success of the police department” he added.”.
Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists’ Union Secretary welcomed the gathering and also proposed the vote of thanks. A memento was presented to Dr Sharanappa on behalf of the journos. DKWJU president Jaganath Shetty Bala was also seated on the dais.