Overview
- Karnataka Police Headquarters, under D.G. and I.G.P. M. A. Saleem, has directed every police circle and police station to constitute dedicated anti-rowdy squads after a push from Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar.
- The squads must verify criminal cases, open or update rowdy and history sheets where applicable, conduct lawful surveillance, gather intelligence, identify gangs and monitor repeat offenders.
- The circular instructs squads to use preventive measures including proceedings under the Goonda Act, the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) 2000, externment orders, and to ensure execution of warrants and bonds.
- Accountability steps require fortnightly reviews by Circle Inspectors and Station House Officers, monthly assessments by ACPs and SDPOs, separate registers and monthly operational reports, and a seven‑day compliance submission to Police Headquarters with possible disciplinary action for noncompliance.
- The practice of maintaining rowdy and history sheets has faced repeated legal challenges and the Karnataka High Court issued procedural guidance in BS Prakash v. State of Karnataka in April 2022, which could limit how the new squads collect and record information and may prompt further legal scrutiny.