Mangaluru: The coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, often marred by communal tensions, have reported a significant decline in such incidents, recording the lowest numbers in 14 years.A report by Suresh Bhat B., an activist with the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) in Mangaluru, reveals that only 50 communal incidents were recorded in 2024, a sharp drop from 84 cases in 2023. The figure is a stark contrast to 2015, which saw a record 228 incidents.The report, based on local media coverage, categorizes incidents into moral policing, allegations of religious conversions, cattle vigilantism, hate speech, and other communal activities. It acknowledges the possibility of unreported cases but excludes incidents where the perpetrators’ identities remain unknown.In 2024, the report documented:Moral policing: 22 cases by Hindu vigilantes, 1 by Muslim vigilantesReligious conversions: 2 casesCattle vigilantism: 2 casesHate speech: 27 instancesOther communal activities: 5 casesBhat attributes this decline to proactive measures by the state government and law enforcement. The anti-communal wing within the police department, established recently, has played a critical role by actively filing cases against perpetrators.“The police and the current state government have demonstrated a stronger commitment to addressing communal issues, which has set a positive precedent,” said Bhat.MG Hegde, spokesperson for the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), highlighted a shift in youth perception. “Young people, both Hindus and Muslims, are now aware of being exploited by political leaders for their agendas. They’ve begun to distance themselves from such activities,” he observed.Hegde also credited the government’s welfare schemes for improving economic stability among families, which has indirectly curbed communal incidents. “Mothers, previously indifferent to their children’s involvement in such acts, are now more focused on the tangible benefits from these schemes,” he added.Decline in Communal Incidents Over the Years:2010: 732011: 872012: 1322013: 1112014: 1732015: 2282016: 1042017: 1252018: 852019: 602020: 1102021: 1202022: 1742023: 842024: 50The significant reduction reflects a positive shift in communal harmony within these districts, with governance and public awareness playing pivotal roles.
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