Mangaluru: Special Action Force officers undergo training to tackle communal unrest, monitor social media

Mangaluru: Special Action Force officers undergo training to tackle communal unrest, monitor social media

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 3, 2025: In an effort to enhance preparedness and operational efficiency, the Mangaluru City Police organised a special training session on Wednesday for officers and personnel of the newly constituted Special Action Force (SAF), covering Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Shivamogga districts.

Commissioner of Police and DIG SAF Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H said that the training session was held at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru. The session included practical demonstrations of the use of anti-riots guns and stun shells, and equipment deployed during instances of mob unrest and communal disturbances.

A total of 95 officers and personnel from the operational wing of the Special Action Force actively participated in the training exercise.

In addition, select officials from the Intelligence wing received specialised training on social media monitoring, focusing on gathering intelligence and tracking hate speech and provocative content on social media platforms. The training is part of the broader initiative to maintain communal harmony and peace across the three districts under the jurisdiction, he added.

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, on June 13, had inaugurated the SAF to tackle communal incidents and restore peace and harmony in communally sensitive districts. Headquartered in Mangaluru, the SAF consists of three companies—one in each district—and will be led by Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy, under the guidance of IGP (Western Range) Amit Singh. The SAF consists of three companies, each with 78 personnel and officers, along with 15 additional personnel stationed in Mangaluru.