India, June 13 -- In a decisive move to curb rising communal tensions in Karnataka's coastal belt, the state government has launched a dedicated Special Action Force (SAF), which Home Minister G Parameshwara inaugurated in Mangaluru on Friday. The SAF, a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, is tasked exclusively with monitoring and neutralising communal threats in the sensitive districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Shivamogga.

Speaking at the launch, Home Minister Parameshwara said the government had taken serious note of recurring communal violence in the region, especially over the past decade, and felt the urgent need to create a dedicated strike force that could respond swiftly and effectively. The minister described the SAF as...