Belgaum: Coming down hard on moral policing in the state, which led to the recent communal clashes in Belgaum, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the government was considering banning the Sree Ram Sene, which was showing no signs of giving it up. Vowing to take strong action against activists who indulged in moral policing, he said he had directed the police to book those involved in harassing the young couple in Belgaum under the Goonda Act.
"Home Minister K.J. George has made it clear to those who indulged in moral policing in Belgaum and took the law into their own hands to be prepared to face stringent police action," he told reporters. Asked why the state government was not taking action against the Sree Ram Sene when neighbouring Goa had banned its entry into the state, Mr Siddaramaiah said Karnataka too was considering banning it. "I have directed all police officials in the state to take the issue of moral policing very seriously.
Some people are indulging in it for their own selfish ends and are trying to take law into their hands," he deplored, adding that Belgaum police commissioner, Bhaskar Rao was expected to improve the law and order situation in the city by making best use of the police force. Also the state would fill vacancies in the police department, unlike past governments which had not bothered to, he assured Mr George also came down hard on moral policing that often led to violence in Belgaum and said he had ordered the police after the fresh violence to take stringent action against the guilty.
Digressing, the home minister said the Police Housing Corporation was building 11,500 houses for police personnel and the department would get 400 new vehicles in a few weeks.
