BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took serious objection to police officers seeking transfers playing the caste card. Speaking at the senior police officers’ annual conference at the office of the state police chief on Nrupathunga Road on Tuesday, he said it is extremely improper on the part of police officers to use the caste card to seek plum postings, and warned them against it.
He told the officers that conviction rates in atrocity cases are not satisfactory, though there was a slight improvement in 2023 compared to previous years.
The national average of conviction in such cases is 33 per cent, and police officers should ensure that the state’s figures go above the national average this year. The conviction rate drops if there is a delay in filing chargesheets, which have to be be filed within 60 days in such cases.
Once FIRs are registered, effective investigation should be taken up to ensure a higher conviction rate. Conviction rates drop if there is no quality investigation and police officers must supervise and guide policemen at police stations to increase conviction rates, he advised the officers.
He directed them to ensure safety of weaker sections, women, children, SC/STs and those staying alone. Beat policing across the state should be stepped up, while Hoysala patrolling vehicles must be monitored.
He told the officers to identify and monitor rowdy elements and habitual offenders who try to disturb communal harmony ahead of the Parliament elections and to ensure that there are no communal clashes.
“Law and order should be in place. The flow of investments also depends on the law and order situation. When investments are more, there will be more job opportunities. If more jobs are created, then the state’s economic growth will increase. Keeping all these aspects in mind, the police officers should improve law and order situation in the state,” he advised.