Mangaluru, June 13 -- In a significant move to maintain communal harmony in coastal Karnataka, the state government on Friday launched a dedicated Special Action Force (SAF) in Mangaluru, a first-of-its-kind unit in the country aimed at curbing hate speech and preventing targeted violence.
Speaking at the inauguration of the SAF headquarters here, state Home Minister G Parameshwara described the initiative as a "bold and necessary step" to restore public confidence in Dakshina Kannada, a district long troubled by communal flashpoints.
"This is not a force meant to intimidate," Parameshwara clarified, "but if provoked, it will act decisively to preserve peace and order."
The SAF has been constituted within a week of a cabinet decision, wi...