Mangalore: Say Bantwal and there is dismay in police circles as no officer likes to be posted in this town considered the “power centre,” of Dakshina Kannada district as both forest minister and district in-charge Ramanath Rai and RSS leader, Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat call the shots here.
Being the hometown of both powerful leaders, police officials often have to put up with political interference even in trivial matters, say sources.
In addition to the political trouble, police posted here have to deal with communal tension and Maoists, as the sub-division is home to communally sensitive areas and Naxal prone villages.
While Sadanand Vernekar took charge as the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Bantwal sub-division carved out of the Puttur sub-division on April 22 this year, he served for only three months before he was transferred and the post has remained vacant since.
Although an officer was appointed in his place, he managed to wriggle out of the posting, say sources. Officers are also reluctant to be posted as police inspectors in the town.
“It's common knowledge in police circles that this is a problematic sub division. Bantwal has the highest number of communally sensitive areas and being the hometown of two influential leaders of rival parties, it is politically tense. There is political interference even in trivial issues. Any police officer posted here, finds it difficult to work. Those who cannot avoid it, come here reluctantly , but try to get a transfer as soon as they can,” says a senior police officer.
