Bengaluru: Asking the State top Police brass to take communal posts and messages on social media seriously, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah yesterday directed them to register suo moto cases against those involved in posting provocative messages intended to incite tension.

Communal troublemakers should be booked under the stringent Goonda Act, if necessary, and steps must be taken to banish them (externment) from their places, Siddharamaiah said during his annual meeting with senior Police officers.

The meeting comes after several incidents of communal violence were reported from coastal parts of the State, especially the communally sensitive Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada districts, over the last couple of months. State Police Chief Neelamani N. Raju was also present during the meeting.

The CM told officers that they must be on guard 24/7 as social media may be used as an effective platform to spread hatred and misinformation. “Take immediate action and do not wait for orders from above or wait till somebody files a complaint,” the CM told officers.

Warning officers if they fail to control violence, the CM said that jurisdiction officers will be held responsible for any untoward incident and the district Police Chiefs will be accountable for overall law and order situation of a particular district.

He asked the officers to identify sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling booths all over the State and step up vigil.

Siddharamaiah expressed his dissatisfaction on State Intelligence and is learnt to have told the officers that a couple of incidents of stabbings  reported in Dakshina Kannada district could have been prevented if the Police had been more alert.

“These forces and individuals should be identified and kept on a close watch. Strict action should be taken against them if they are found involved in inciting communal divide and hatred in any form,” he told officers.

“I have instructed the Police to take suo moto action against provocative posts on social media that are intended to create communal problems and disturb the peace in society,” Siddharamaiah said after the meeting. “The Police have been asked to take action irrespective of the community of the individuals (involved).”

Siddharamaiah said that communal forces are increasingly using social media to provoke people against other communities, and the Police must check this as the State goes into election mode over the next three months.

“The crime rate in 2017 in the State had shown a 1% decline. Police officials should work hard to reduce the crime rate. I have instructed them to ensure law and order is maintained and special emphasis should be given to provide security cover to women and children,” he said.

Government to overhaul Intelligence wing

The Congress Government in Karnataka that has come under severe criticism for mishandling the communal situation in coastal districts that has led to many stabbing incidents will strengthen the State Intelligence. To strengthen the State Intelligence, the Government is recruiting Police personnel exclusively for the job. Recruits will be given specialised training and there will be no inter-Departmental transfers.