Bhatkal: Ahead of the Eidul-Azha festival, which will be observed from June 7 to June 10, 2025, across Uttara Kannada district, Deputy Commissioner K. Lakshmi Priya has appealed to leaders and citizens from all communities to uphold peace, harmony, and mutual respect during the celebrations. The DC emphasized that Eid should reflect the festival’s spirit of sacrifice and compassion, and be observed in a traditional and lawful manner.
She was addressing a district-level communal harmony meeting held on Thursday at the District Police Office in Karwar. The event was jointly organized by the district administration and police department in preparation for the upcoming festival.
Highlighting the administration’s readiness, the DC assured that comprehensive precautionary measures are in place to ensure smooth and peaceful celebrations. She instructed officials from the Urban Development Department to ensure proper waste management, while directing the Animal Husbandry and Revenue Departments to coordinate closely with the police to facilitate necessary support.
In a firm message against illegal cattle transportation, DC Lakshmi Priya said that 24 checkposts have been set up across the district, and violators may face stringent action including imprisonment of up to seven years and fines of up to ₹10 lakh under existing laws.
Urging vigilance against misinformation, she warned the public not to fall prey to provocative or fake content circulated on social media. She advised citizens to verify any concerns through the district control room or local police and called on members of all communities to actively support efforts to maintain communal harmony.
Superintendent of Police M. Narayan, who also spoke at the meeting, said that peace committee meetings have been conducted in all police station jurisdictions ahead of the festival. He noted that CCTV cameras have been installed at sensitive locations, and tight security arrangements are being put in place.
“Twenty-four checkposts will remain operational round the clock during the festival. A special deployment of police personnel will be in place for four days, and close monitoring will be carried out to prevent the spread of inflammatory content or hate speech,” the SP said. He urged citizens to promptly report any suspicious or unlawful activity to the nearest police station and assured strict action against offenders.
Leaders from both Hindu and Muslim organizations present at the meeting pledged full cooperation to ensure a peaceful Eid. They reiterated that Uttara Kannada has a long-standing tradition of communal harmony and affirmed their collective commitment to uphold it during the festival. They also extended support in curbing illegal cattle transport.
Among those present at the meeting were Additional SPs Krishnamurthy and Jagadish, Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary Prakash Halammanavar, senior officials from the Animal Husbandry and Urban Local Bodies departments, DySPs of all subdivisions, and representatives from various religious and community organizations.