Police deny TV9 report claiming ‘Intelligence Alert’ over possible communal tension in Bhatkal

Bhatkal: Bhatkal Sub-Divisional Police Officer (DySP) Girish has dismissed a report published on the TV9 Kannada website claiming that Uttara Kannada district has been placed on "high alert" and that the district administration had tightened security following intelligence inputs about possible communal unrest in Bhatkal.

The report has since gone viral on social media, triggering concern among residents.

Speaking to Vartha Bharati, DySP Girish clarified that the police have not received any specific intelligence input regarding a possible communal disturbance in Bhatkal.

"There has been no specific intelligence alert about communal riots in Bhatkal. The claim that a 'high alert' has been declared across Uttara Kannada district is also not true," he said.

The officer explained that issuing preventive notices to certain individuals is a routine administrative and legal exercise undertaken periodically to maintain law and order.

"Such notices are issued at the Tahsildar level from time to time as part of preventive policing. They should not be linked to any particular incident or interpreted as evidence of an emergency situation," he said.

Describing the process as a standard legal procedure, the DySP cautioned that publishing unverified information could create unnecessary fear and confusion among the public.

He urged media organisations to verify facts with official sources before publishing reports relating to law and order.

Appealing to the public, Girish advised people not to rely on rumours or unverified posts circulating on social media and instead follow only information issued by the police department and district administration.

He added that the law and order situation in the district remains normal and urged residents to ignore rumours and continue their day-to-day activities without concern.