Bengaluru: Home minister G Parameshwara defended the govt’s decision to transfer the police commissioner of Mangaluru and SP of Udupi district, saying they were results of “long-standing public demand”.In a major reshuffle, Sudheer Kumar Reddy replaced Anupam Agarwal as Mangaluru city police commissioner, while Udupi SP Arun K was moved to neighbouring Dakshina Kannada district, replacing Yatish N. Hariram Shankar was posted as SP, Udupi. Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have been on edge for months now following a series of murders and stabbing incidents.Parameshwara said these police officers were transferred based on requests of local people. “During my last visit to Mangaluru, there was pressure to change top officers, but it wasn’t done then as it was deemed inappropriate at that time. Since the demand has persisted, changes were made,” said Parameshwara.He said the govt has taken the incidents in Dakshina Kannada district “seriously” and warned that any attempts to disturb peace in the economically and educationally exemplary district will not be tolerated. “The situation demanded the transfer of the police commissioner of Mangaluru, SP of Dakshina Kannada, and SP of Udupi. Instructions were given to them to take strict measures,” he said, while urging people to “cooperate”.On the proposal to form a task force to control communal violence, especially in the coastal districts, Parameshwara said the govt needs time. He said he has had discussions with the DGP & IG about deployment and responsibilities of the task force. The forces will be deployed in Udupi, Mangaluru, and Shivamogga. “We will curb provocative speeches unnecessary social media posts within the existing legal framework,” he said.He said no part of the state, whether coastal region, North Karnataka or any other area, will be neglected although special attention will be given to the coastal region. Meanwhile, Union minister HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) claimed the state govt has “failed” to ensure law and order in Dakshina Kannada district and is “unable” to protect people on the coast from rain and floods. He said continuous heavy rain has disrupted life across the state and people were “overwhelmed and in tears” but the govt seems “eager to turn them into tears of blood”.“The Congress govt is unconcerned about heavy rain on the coast, but has endless concern for coastal murders,” Kumaraswamy said. “This concern is not to curb these murders but to gain political advantage from them. How many murders have occurred in the coastal region since Congress came to the helm? Why haven’t these incidents been curbed? Didn’t one community give them 100% of their votes? Congress has failed to protect that community.“He accused the govt of turning “the garden of peace of all communities” into a “garden of venomous snakes” and urged immediate action to bring peace to coastal Karnataka. He alleged houses, roads, and bridges had collapsed due to heavy rain in the region and people were crying out for help. “But the govt has failed to act,” he said.