New unit to focus on prevention, patrol and swift legal action
Hubballi, Sept 06: The Hubballi-Dharwad police have launched Anti‑Stabbing Squads across the city following directions from newly appointed Commissioner Bhushan Borase, police sources reported on Sunday. The squads, established at the police station level, will concentrate on preventing knife‑related assaults and detecting incidents rapidly to ensure prompt legal action.
According to an official statement released by the Commissioner’s office, the squads will carry out regular patrolling within their jurisdictions, keep a close watch on suspicious persons, conduct checks and take precautionary measures to avert stabbing and other violent incidents. The DCP (Law and Order) will supervise the functioning of the squads, the statement added.
- Deployment: Units to be constituted at each police station across Hubballi‑Dharwad.
- Primary duties: proactive patrolling, surveillance of suspects, checks at strategic locations and rapid response to incidents.
- Community engagement: awareness drives planned to reduce fear and panic among residents.
The initiative reflects a policing emphasis on pre‑emptive action rather than solely relying on post‑incident investigation. Officials said awareness among the public will be promoted alongside enforcement so that citizens remain alert and cooperate with police measures.
"Swift and effective legal action will be taken in the event of any stabbing incident," the Commissioner’s office said.
Operationally, the Anti‑Stabbing Squads are expected to work in coordination with existing beat constables, traffic units and intelligence teams. The police statement did not specify the exact number of personnel assigned to each squad or the deployment timetable, but it made clear that station‑level supervision will ensure local accountability.
| Responsibility | Expected action |
|---|---|
| Patrolling | Regular rounds in sensitive localities and night patrols |
| Monitoring | Identification and surveillance of suspicious persons |
| Checks | Random inspections and weapon confiscation drives where necessary |
| Public awareness | Community outreach to prevent panic and encourage reporting |
Local residents welcomed visible policing but emphasised the need for clear results. A shopkeeper in the Gokul area said frequent patrols and prompt action would help curb street violence, while students in the Court Circle and surrounding areas called for safety measures around educational institutions during late hours.
Hubballi‑Dharwad has witnessed occasional violent incidents in public places and on arterial roads in recent years, prompting the police to recalibrate strategies. The new squads are being positioned as part of that broader recalibration to build deterrence through presence and targeted checks.
Law enforcement experts note that specialised squads can reduce specific crimes if backed by intelligence sharing, timely prosecution and community cooperation. The Commissioner’s office stated that the DCP (Law and Order) will supervise the squads, signalling an intent for centralized oversight and standard operating procedures across police stations.
As the Anti‑Stabbing Squads begin deployment, residents in Hubballi and Dharwad can expect increased patrolling and checks in their localities. The police have urged citizens to report suspicious behaviour and assured that prompt legal action will follow any stabbing incident, the statement said.
Further details on manpower allocation, hotlines or complaint mechanisms were not provided in the initial release. The police statement indicated that more information on awareness programmes and operational plans would be shared through station‑level channels in due course.
