Why Congress MLC K. Govindaraj Wants Two Police Commissioners for Bengaluru City?
Why Congress MLC K. Govindaraj Wants Two Police Commissioners for Bengaluru City?
Belagavi/Bengaluru: A strong demand to split the Bengaluru Police Commissionerate into two independent units dominated the Legislative Council discussion on Monday, with Congress MLC K. Govindaraj arguing that the city’s exploding population, rising crime patterns, and increasing law-and-order pressure make it “impossible for a single Police Commissioner to manage effectively.”
Govindaraj raised the Calling Attention Motion, insisting that Greater Bengaluru’s five-city corporation structure, high-density growth, narcotics activity, cybercrime escalation, and recent daylight robberies justify the urgent need for a second Police Commissionerate and additional senior-level policing posts.
“Today’s Bengaluru cannot be managed by one Commissioner”
In a sharply worded submission, Govindaraj said:
- Bengaluru’s population has multiplied several times since 1963, when the Commissionerate was created for a 10-lakh population with one DIG and two DCPs.
- In 1990 the city’s population rose to 40 lakh and the post was upgraded to IGP level — yet no structural reform has happened after that despite exponential growth.
- Now, with the city divided into five Greater Bengaluru city corporations, crime management, traffic regulation, cybercrime tracking, and narcotics control have all become significantly more complex.
- Bengaluru has become a major hub for drug trafficking and cybercrime, and despite the police working hard, “a single Commissioner cannot handle this scale of challenges anymore.”
- He stressed that even with added DCPs, ACPs and traffic units, the sheer population load, inflow of migrants, and the city’s day-time and night-time crime pressures demand a parallel commissionerate.
- He argued that dividing the Commissionerate into two would:
- Reduce administrative burden
- Improve response time
- Strengthen crime surveillance
- Allow better traffic enforcement
- Improve safety for women, senior citizens, and migrant workers
- “If not 100%, at least 20% crime reduction is possible with two Commissionerates,” he stated.
- He urged the Home Minister:
“With public support behind this idea, I request the government to create a second Commissionerate at the earliest.”
Govindaraj emphasised that in a city where lakhs of crores worth of investments flow, policing must modernise at the same pace as population and infrastructure challenges.
Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara Responds: ‘No such proposal under examination now’
Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara acknowledged the city’s rapid expansion, cybercrime growth, and the heavy traffic burden. He praised the Bengaluru police for solving major cases — including a recent ₹11.17-crore robbery solved within 24 hours.
Also Read: Government Denies Move to Split Bengaluru Police Commissionerate
Key points from his reply:
- Currently no proposal to create another Commissionerate.
- Bengaluru is expanding rapidly; lakhs of people migrate every year.
- Conventional crime may be declining, but cybercrime is rising sharply.
- The city already has:
- 11 DCPs
- 6 Joint Commissioners
- 25 ACPs for L&O
- 9 ACPs for Cybercrime
- Additional DCPs for traffic
- He confirmed that cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad have split Commissionerates, but Bengaluru does not yet require such restructuring.
- However, he conceded that after the Greater Bengaluru restructuring, the city may need additional commissionerates in future.
- He said the government will study models from other metros before deciding.
JDS MLC Sharavana: “Crime, cybercrime, robberies, and traffic demand stronger policing”
Sharavana supported Govindaraj’s demand and said:
- Population growth has increased crime, especially cybercrime and gold robberies.
- Victims today fear even opening messages due to online fraud.
- Bengaluru must strengthen policing so that public feels safe and protected.
- Strict enforcement and stricter laws are needed.
- A second Commissionerate would reduce pressure on senior officers and improve public access to police services.
BJP MLC Chalawadi Narayanaswamy: “Traffic collapse and crime surge show the system is overstretched”
Narayanaswamy highlighted operational challenges:
- Traffic congestion worsens due to narrow roads, uncontrolled commercialisation in residential areas, and ineffective parking regulation.
- Major robberies in crowded areas show weaknesses in crime prevention.
- Many police officials have faced disciplinary action — indicating systemic strain.
- He said a second Commissionerate would:
- Reduce administrative overload
- Improve law-and-order control
- Strengthen accountability
- Boost public confidence in policing
Final Stand of the Government
Home Minister Parameshwara concluded:
- Bengaluru remains safer than many major metros.
- But the concerns raised are valid.
- Government will re-examine the proposal.
- A study team will be sent to evaluate multi-commissionerate models in other major Indian cities.
- After review, the government will take an appropriate decision.
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