Separate Industrial Security Force battalion sought for Kalyana Karnataka

The Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority has urged the State government to create a separate fifth battalion of the Karnataka State Industrial Security Force (KSISF) with its headquarters in Kalaburagi to strengthen security, create employment opportunities and promote balanced development in the Kalyana Karnataka region.

In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, KSPCA member Mohan Kumar Danappa said the KSISF currently has four battalions headquartered in Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Dharwad and Mysuru. However, the Kalyana Karnataka region does not have a dedicated battalion or headquarters despite having several critical installations.

He pointed out that the KSISF is currently providing security to eight critical installations in the region, including Bidar Airport, Kalaburagi Airport, the Kalaburagi Bench of the Karnataka High Court, Kalaburagi Central Prison, Ballari Central Prison, Jindal Airport, BTPS Kudatini in Ballari and the Tungabhadra Reservoir in Vijayanagara district. More than 600 posts have been sanctioned for these installations.

Security audits have also been completed for other critical establishments, including Hutti Gold Mines, Yermarus Thermal Power Station, Narayanapura Reservoir and Karanja Reservoir. However, personnel have not been deployed at several of these locations due to a shortage of manpower, he said.

Mr. Danappa also highlighted service-related concerns faced by more than 400 officers and personnel currently working at the eight installations. Since a proper regional/local cadre has not been created for the Kalyana Karnataka region, personnel with sufficient seniority are allegedly being denied promotions.

He proposed transferring all existing posts attached to the eight critical installations in the region to a new fifth KSISF battalion based in Kalaburagi. Vacant posts could initially be kept unfilled and subsequently filled in phases, he suggested.

The old IGP office building in Kalaburagi could be temporarily utilised as the office of the Commandant of the proposed fifth battalion, he said, thereby avoiding the need for major additional infrastructure expenditure.

According to Mr. Danappa, there are sufficient critical installations in Kalyana Karnataka to support a full-fledged battalion. Since the respective installations are willing to bear the entire cost of security, the creation of the new battalion would not impose an additional financial burden on the State Government, he claimed.

He said establishing a dedicated KSISF battalion in Kalaburagi would strengthen security at critical installations, address regional imbalance, facilitate effective implementation of Article 371J, create employment opportunities for youth in Kalyana Karnataka and ensure promotion opportunities based on seniority for existing personnel.