Members Of Muslim Community In Karnataka Express Disappointment Over Non-Elevation Of M.A Saleem As Bengaluru Police Commissioner: Report

Members of the Muslim community have expressed disappointment over the decision of the Congress government in Karnataka not to elevate Dr M.A. Saleem, currently serving as Special Commissioner for Traffic, as the next Bengaluru city police commissioner, The Hindu reported

On Tuesday (May 30), the Karnataka government appointed the head of the state intelligence bureau B. Dayananda as the next Bengaluru police commissioner. Dayanand replaces C.H. Pratap Reddy, who has now been posted as DGP, Internal Security Division. ADGP K V Sharath Chandra, the current CID head, was transferred to the Intelligence department.

Saleem has been promoted and posted as DGP, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Units and Economic Offences, Bengaluru.

A delegation comprising Ulemas (religious heads ) and community leaders met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his residence a week earlier and submitted a list of demands for the community, including making Saleem Commissioner of Police.

Late A R Nizamuddin was the only community member who served as police commissioner of the city. He was the city's top cop from December 1980 to March 1983.

Muslim organisations have often demanded better representation for the community in the state police force.

A retired IPS officer, U Nisar Ahmed from Karnataka, recently urged the new Congress government to devise short-term and long-term development plans to instil confidence among Muslims.

Crediting the minorities for playing a pivotal role in the Congress' victory in Karnataka, he asked the government to initiate substantial measures for Muslims' economic and educational development.

Ahmed also requested the government to prioritise Muslims in selecting presidents and members for various corporations and boards. Ahmed highlighted specific government agencies such as the State Housing Board, Slum Development Board, Bangalore Development Authority, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, State Trading Corporation, State Finance Corporation, Food and Civil Supplies Corporation, Forest Corporation, and Pollution Control Board.

'One Way Saleem'- A well-regarded cop

In November 2022, CM Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government appointed Saleem as the city's traffic commissioner. Bommai government even upgraded the joint commissioner (traffic) post to that of a special commissioner to ensure the elevation of Saleem, an officer of the rank of ADGP.

A 1993-batch IPS officer with a PhD in traffic management, Saleem won appreciation from a section of the media and the public for his work in traffic management.

 Saleem served as the additional commissioner of police (traffic) between 2011 and 2015. During his previous tenure, he attempted to streamline traffic management in the city by leveraging the technology stack developed as part of the B-TRAC project under Praveen Sood (till recently the DGP of Karnataka who was recently elevated as CBI Director)

Saleem was dubbed "One Way Saleem" after introducing one way on 128 key roads in the city. He maintained that it was done based on 'scientific study.'