Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that law and order situation has a direct relationship with the economic growth of the state, while directing the police to curb rising crime, particularly cyber offences. Law and order directly impacts state’s GDP: CM
Speaking at the “Police Flag Day” event held at the Koramangala Parade Ground, where he presented the Chief Minister’s medals, Siddaramaiah issued a strong message to the police force on accountability and enforcement.
“There is a direct relationship between law and order and the state’s economic growth and GDP. If the police department functions with this in mind, it will be making a significant contribution to the economy,” he said.
The chief minister noted that Karnataka’s incidence of certain crimes, including cybercrime, remains higher than the national average and called for strict measures to control them. “In several categories of crime, including cyber offences, our state’s rate is higher than the national average. These must be firmly controlled and prevented,” he said.
Emphasising responsibility at the police station level, Siddaramaiah said he believed that crimes cannot occur without the knowledge of local authorities. “It is my firm belief that no crime or illegal activity can take place within the jurisdiction of a police station without the knowledge of the station officer concerned,” he said, underlining the need for vigilance and accountability.
“If police inspectors work efficiently and honestly within their limits, they can prevent several criminal activities,” he added.
Warning of action against police personnel who fail to prevent crimes, the CM instructed the home minister G Parameshwara to hold jurisdictional inspectors accountable if necessary preventive measures are not taken despite repeated warnings.
At the same time, he acknowledged the state police’s performance in handling criminal cases and improving conviction rates. “Karnataka is ahead in controlling various types of crimes and in improving conviction rates. While I congratulate the police department for this, we must also put in greater effort to control those crimes where the numbers remain high,” he added.
The chief minister urged the police to make better use of technology to tackle evolving threats. “We must utilise technological advancements to prevent different kinds of crimes, including cybercrime,” he said.
Highlighting the demanding nature of police work, Siddaramaiah said round-the-clock duty had helped maintain peace and harmony in society.
“By working with a sense of duty round the clock, without time limits, the police have ensured peace and harmony in society,” he said.
He reiterated the government’s focus on protecting vulnerable groups. “Women, children, the weak and the helpless are our government’s top priority for protection. The police must keep this at the centre of their work,” he said.
“No one can take the law into their own hands, irrespective of how powerful or influential they are,” he said.
The chief minister also stressed the government’s goal of making Karnataka a drug-free state. “Our government’s goal is to make Karnataka a drug-free state. This must also become the goal of the police department,” he said.