Karnataka: Special Action Force formed to restore communal harmony in three districts, says Home Minister G. Parameshwara

Home Minister launches Special Action Force to restore communal harmony in three districts, tackling violence effectively with intelligence gathering.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara who launched the Special Action Force (SAF) in Mangaluru on Friday (June 13, 2025) said that its sole purpose is to restore communal harmony in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Shivamogga districts.

The SAF will will act against those persons who disturb communal harmony in the three disricts, he said adding that such a force has been constituted in the country probably for the first time.

As many as 248 personnel from the Anti Naxal Force have been drawn to create SAF. A SAF unit, each comprising of 78 personnel, will be placed in the three districts. The SAF will presently be headed by the Deputy Inspector General C.H. Sudheer Kumar Reddy, who is Mangaluru Police Commissioner, and it will work in coordination with Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Amith Singh.

“Earlier, we (the government) spoke mildly (on the communal violence in the region). Following the recent incidents (a mob lynching and two communalmurders in Dakshina Kannada), we decided to use force (in the form of SAF) to tackle the communally related issues,” he said.

The government is confident that the SAF will deal effectively with persons who indulge in communal violence, give hate speeches and spread hatred through social media posts, he said. The SAF personnel are well versed in intelligence gathering, he added.

In the last a decade, Mr. Parameshwara said, there have been many communal clashes and murders in the three districts. The SAF personnel will collect intelligence and they are empowered to act against persons who create communal disharmony. “The SAF will operate in the three districts and their numbers might increase, if need be. If necessary, SAF units can be set up in other parts of the State,” he said. “I hope this force will not be needed to operate for a long period,” he added.

“As the personnel have been drawn from the ANF, all privileges and service benefits given to the ANF personnel will continue with SAF personnel,” the Home Minister said.