Karnataka govt to set up dedicated police stations to probe atrocities against SCs and STs

Previously, cases of atrocities against SCs and STs were managed by the local police, who are already burdened with multiple responsibilities.

Each district will receive one DCRE police station, with Bengaluru receiving two, said Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H K Patil. (Photo: H K Patil/ Facebook)

With approximately 2,000 cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) reported annually in Karnataka, the State Cabinet has decided to designate 33 units of the Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) as dedicated police stations.

This decision includes the recruitment of 450 personnel across various posts to man these units. Each district will receive one DCRE police station, with Bengaluru receiving two, said Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H K Patil. The annual expenditure for these stations is projected at Rs 73 crore, with each one led by an officer of the rank of Deputy SP/ACP.

These DCRE police stations will be responsible for the registration and investigation of atrocity cases, ensuring timely and thorough investigations. The Home and Social Welfare departments will coordinate to establish operating procedures, Patil added.

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The DCRE was initially founded in 1974 to safeguard the civil rights of SCs and STs, while the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was enacted in 1989. Since then, several states have opened special police stations dedicated to investigating atrocity cases.

Previously, these cases were managed by the local police, who are already burdened with multiple responsibilities, resulting in delayed investigations, witnesses turning hostile, and low conviction rates. The conviction rate in Karnataka currently stands at only 4 per cent (68 cases), Patil said, emphasizing the need for specialized DCRE police stations to improve justice outcomes for SC and ST communities.

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Karnataka