Mangaluru: A darker side to the otherwise serene temple town of Belthangady taluk in Dakshina Kannada is slowly starting to show itself. According to the data available, the taluk witnesses an average of 300 unnantural deaths (mostly women) in a year. The startling data has now provoked the expert Committee on Prevention of Sexual Violence Against Women and Children led by Chairman V S Ugrappa, to recommend to the state government and the police department to form a ‘special vigilance cell’ to prevent more cases of unnatural deaths reported in and around the Belthangady police station’s jurisdictional limits.
The Committee had recently gathered data from police stations across the state and on collating the data this shocking fact came to light.
Speaking about the same to Newskarnataka, V S Ugrappa said, “The Superintendent of Police (SP) has reported that more unnatural deaths have taken place in a particular taluk. Keeping this in mind, I have asked the police department to form a special vigilance team to avert such unnatural deaths and create awareness among the people.”
The state government had asked the committee to submit a report on covering various aspects of women and child safety. Hence, the committee submitted a report consisting of 6000 pages with 135 recommendations to the government. “It is up to the government to implement the recommendations,” he added.
The comittee had received data from the Belthangady police that about 300 cases of unnatural deaths occurred every year in the taluk and most of these cases were reported in and around the Dharmasthala police station limits. In addition to this, most of the deaths were either suicides by women or murders of women and girls.
The locals read this trend in a different way. They say that Dharmasthala, being a religious centre, is thronged by people for more reasons than one. “Apart from pilgrimages, it has been a trend for many to come here after leaving their home, out of dejection and frustaration etc. These cases may be more of stories of dejections,” says a local on condition of anonymity.
“Most of these cases take place at the bathing ghats and nearby areas. A separate police station has been set up nearby. This may bring down the unnatural deaths,” says another local.
Speaking to Newskarnataka, Superintendent of Police Dr. Ravikanthe Gowda confirmed that the Committee on Prevention of Sexual Violence Against Women and Children had suggested the formation of a special vigilance team to tackle the problem of unnatural deaths within the limits of the Belthangady police station.
“We are yet to receive particular guidelines from the government on forming a ‘Special Vigilance’ team pertaining to the Belthangady police station limits,” the SP said.
