Kishore121 at 05:57, 30 March 2026

2026-03-30T05:57:11Z

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{{Short description|Indian law enforcement agency}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Karnataka State Police
| nativenamea = {{lang|kn|ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಪೊಲೀಸ್}}
| nativenamer = ''Karnātaka Rājya Polīs''
| commonname =
| abbreviation = KSP
| patch =
| patchcaption =
| logo = Seal_of_Karnataka.svg
| logocaption = ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಪೊಲೀಸ್
| badge =
| badgecaption =
| flag =
| flagcaption =
| imagesize =
| motto = [[Satyameva Jayate]]
| mottotranslated = "Truth alone triumphs"
| mission =
| formedyear = 1965
| formedmonthday = April 2
| preceding1 = Mysore State Police
| dissolved =
| superseding =
| employees = 80,000
| volunteers =
| budget =
| country = India
| countryabbr = IN
| divtype = State
| divname = [[Karnataka]]
| divdab =
| map = IN-KA.svg
| mapcaption = Map of Karnataka Police Department's jurisdiction
| sizearea = 191,791 km2
| sizepopulation = 61,130,704
| legaljuris = Karnataka
| governingbody = [[Department of Home and Confidential|Home Department]], [[Government of Karnataka]]
| constitution1 = [[Constitution of India]]
| police = Yes
| local = Yes
| overviewtype =
| overviewbody =
| headquarters = Karnataka State Police, Bengaluru – 560001
| hqlocmap =
| hqlocleft =
| hqloctop =
| hqlocmappoptitle =
| sworntype =
| sworn =
| unsworntype =
| unsworn =
| electeetype = Elected Minister
| minister1name = [[G. Parameshwara]]
| minister1pfo = Minister for Home
| chief2name =
| chief2position =
| chief1name =[[M. A. Saleem]], [[Indian Police Service|IPS]]<ref>{{cite news |title=M.A. Saleem is the new DG&IGP of Karnataka |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/ma-saleem-is-the-new-dgigp-of-karnataka/article69601818.ece |access-date=22 May 2025 |work=The Hindu |date=21 May 2025 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
| chief1position = [[Director General of Police|Director General and Inspector General of Police]], Karnataka State
| parentagency = Department of Home, Government of Karnataka
| child1agency = [[Bangalore City Police]]
| unittype = Units
| unitname =
| officetype =
| officename =
| provideragency =
| uniformedas = Khaki
| stationtype =
| stations = 923 (2013–2014)
| airbases =
| lockuptype =
| lockups =
| vehicle1type = Patrol Vehicle
| vehicles1 = [[Mahindra Bolero]], [[Suzuki Ertiga]], [[Chevrolet Tavera]], [[Toyota Innova]]
| boat1type =
| boats1 =
| aircraft1type =
| aircraft1 =
| animal1type = Animals
| animals1 = Dogs
| animal2type =
| animals2 =
| person1name =
| person1reason =
| person1type =
| programme1 =
| activity1name =
| activitytype =
| anniversary1 = 2 April
| award1 =
| website = {{URL|https://ksp.karnataka.gov.in/english|ksp.karnataka.gov.in}}
| footnotes =
| reference =
}}

The '''Karnataka State Police''' is the [[law enforcement agency]] for the [[India]]n state of [[Karnataka]]. It was established in 1965 and is headquartered in [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]], the capital city of Karnataka. The KSP is a state police force that works under the purview of the Department of Home Affairs, [[Government of Karnataka]]. The department is headed by the [[Director General of Police|Director General]] and [[Inspector General of Police]].

==Organization==
The [[Director general of police|Director General and Inspector General of Police]] (DG & IGP) is the head of the State police department, and under him are the Director General of Police and Additional Director General of Police. Each Additional Director General of Police is in charge of a particular function: law and order, crime and technical services, administration, intelligence, the Karnataka State Reserve Police, recruitment and training.

The District Police administration is headed by a [[Superintendent of police (India)|Superintendent of Police]] (SP). A group of districts comprise a Police Range, headed by an [[Inspector-general of police|Inspector General of Police]] (IGP). Big cities have a Police Commissionerate led by the [[Commissioner of Police (India)|Commissioner of Police]] (CP). [[Bengaluru]] is headed by an officer with the rank of [[Additional director general of police|Additional Director General of Police]] (ADG). [[Mysore|Mysuru]] is headed by an officer with the rank of Inspector General of Police. [[Belagavi]], [[Hubballi-Dharwad]], [[Kalaburagi]] and [[Mangalore|Mangaluru]] are headed by an officer with the rank of [[Deputy Inspector General of Police]] (DIG).

There are 7 police ranges and 32 police districts in the state of Karnataka.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Ranges and districts
! Range !! Districts
|-
| Southern Range, Mysuru || Chamarajanagara, Hassana, Kodagu, Mandya and Mysuru<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mysurudistrictpolice.gov.in/ |title=Mysuru District Police |access-date=9 May 2020 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812035352/http://mysurudistrictpolice.gov.in/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mandyapolice.karnataka.gov.in/english |title=Home - Mandya District Police |access-date=9 May 2020 |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019155055/https://mandyapolice.karnataka.gov.in/english |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| Western Range, Mangaluru || Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dkpolice.in/|title=Dakshina Kannada District Police|website=Dkpolice.in|access-date=16 January 2021}}</ref> Udupi and Uttara Kannada<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.udupipolice.org/SPUDUPI/|title=UDUPI POLICE|website=Udupipolice.org|access-date=16 January 2021|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124051350/https://www.udupipolice.org/SPUDUPI/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| Eastern Range, Davangere || Chitradurga, Davanagere, Haveri and Shivamogga
|-
| Central Range, Bengaluru || Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Chikkaballapura, Kolar, Ramanagara and Tumakuru
|-
| Northern Range, Belagavi || Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwada, Gadaga and Vijayapura
|-
| North Eastern Range, Kalaburagi || BIdar, Kalaburgi and Yadagiri
|-
| Ballari Range, Ballari || Ballari, Koppala, Raichuru and Vijayanagara
|}

The [[police stations]] are the lowest units of the police department. There are 906 police stations, 230 circle offices, 91 SDPOs and 31 DPOs (including railway police) in Karnataka state. Police stations are headed by Inspector in towns and cities. There may be two to four Sub-Inspectors (S.I.) in addition to assistant sub-inspectors (A.S.I), Head Constables (H.C.) and police constables (P.C.). Rural police stations are headed by a sub-inspector or two sub-inspectors covering law and order and crime, depending on the station's importance and sensitivity. They are grouped into circles, comprising a sub-division. Sub-divisions are headed by Deputy Superintendents of Police and circles by Police Inspectors. Additional superintendent of police's (ASP's) are also there in some districts.

'''Officers''' <ref>{{Cite web|title= POLICE OFFICERS - Uttara Kannada District Police|url= https://uttarakannadapolice.karnataka.gov.in/info-1/POLICE+OFFICERS/en|access-date= 13 May 2023|archive-date= 13 May 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230513151215/https://uttarakannadapolice.karnataka.gov.in/info-1/POLICE+OFFICERS/en|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Strength of Karnataka State Police |url=https://ksp.karnataka.gov.in/page/Administration/K+S+P+Strength/en |access-date=13 May 2023 |archive-date=13 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513151215/https://ksp.karnataka.gov.in/page/Administration/K+S+P+Strength/en |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*[[Director general of police|Director General]] & Inspector General of Police<br>(DG & IGP)

* Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)
* Inspector General of Police (IGP)
* Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG)
* Superintendent of Police (SP)
* Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl.SP)
* Assistant SP ([[Indian Police Service|IPS]]) or Deputy SP ([[State Police Services|KSPS]])

'''Sub-ordinates'''
* Police Inspector/Circle Police Inspector (PI/CPI)
* Police Sub-Inspector (PSI)
* Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police (ASI)
* Head Constable (HC)
* Constable (PC)

==Insignia of Karnataka Police (State Police)==
;Gazetted Officers
{{Indian Police Service Officer Ranks}}

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"
|+'''Karnataka State Police Officers Insignia''' <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mahapolice.gov.in/jsp/temp/html/policerank.pdf|title=Police Ranks|website=[[Maharashtra Police]]|access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Governance of Kerala Police"/><ref name="Police Ranks and Badges"/>
|-
! colspan="7" style="background:#e6e6fa;" | Gazetted Officers
|- align=center
||'''Insignia'''
|[[File:AP-SP State Police.png|center|frameless|90x90px]]
|[[File:Assistant Superintendent of Police.png|center|frameless|90x90px]]
|[[File:AP Deupty Superintendent of Police.png|center|frameless|90x90px]]
|[[File:DySP 2 Star.png|center|frameless|90x90px]]
|[[File:DySP 1 Star.png|center|frameless|90x90px]]
| [[File:Police Inspector insignia.png|center|frameless|90x90px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
||'''Rank'''
|[[Superintendent of police (India)|Superintendent of Police]]
(KSPS)
|[[Assistant Superintendent of Police|Additional Superintendent of Police]]
(KSPS)
|[[Deputy Superintendent of Police]]
(KSPS)
|[[Deputy Superintendent of Police]]
(KSPS - Probationary for two years)
|[[Deputy Superintendent of Police]]
(KSPS - Probationary for one year)
|[[Inspector#India|Police Inspector]] and Circle Inspector {{Note|Officers of the rank of Police Inspector are also appointed as Circle Police Inspectors (CPI), who head police circles in rural areas.}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
||'''Abbreviation'''
|SP
|Addl.SP
|DySP
|DySP
|DySP
|PI and CI
|-
| colspan="5" |
*{{smaller|}}
|-
! colspan="5" style="background:#e6e6fa;" | Non-Gazetted Officers
|- align="center"
|'''Insignia'''
| [[File:Police Sub-Inspector.png|center|frameless|90x90px]]
| [[File:Assistant Sub-Inspector.png|center|frameless|90x90px]]
| [[File:AP-Police Head Constable.png|center|frameless|48x48px]]
| '''''No insignia'''''
|- style="text-align:center;"
|'''Rank'''
| [[Sub-inspector#India|Sub Inspector of Police]]
| [[Assistant sub-inspector of police|Assistant Sub Inspector]] (and 2 years Probationary Sub Inspector)
| [[Head constable]]
| [[Constable|Police constable]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|'''Abbreviation'''
|PSI/SI
|ASI and Probationary PSI
|HC
|PC
|}

==Law and Order==
This wing is headed by an officer with the rank of Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order.

==State Intelligence Department==
The Intelligence Department is headed by an Additional Director General of Police, assisted by two Deputy Inspector General of Police and five Superintendents of Police at headquarters. The five Superintendents of Police in the Intelligence Divisions are in Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Gulbarga, Belagavi, Davanagere and Ballari.

=={{anchor|Crime & Technical Services Wing}}Crime and Technical Services Wing==
This wing is headed by the Additional Director General of Police, Crime and Technical Services. It includes the Fingerprint Bureau, Forensic Scientific Laboratory, Police Computer Wing and State Crime Record Bureau.

=={{anchor|Karnataka State Reserve Police}}Reserve police==
In the state, the police trace their origins to the former Mysore State Imperial Service. They consist of:
* A District Armed Reserve (DAR) for each district
* A City Armed Reserve (CAR) in Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Belagavi and Hubli-Dharwad
* A [[Special Task Force (India)|Special Task Force]] (STF)
* The Karnataka Armed Reserve Mounted Police, headquartered in Mysore
* Coastal Security Police (CSP)
* Government Railway Police (GRP)

The Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) is headed by an Additional Director General of Police, assisted by an Inspector General and one Deputy Inspectors General of Police at headquarters. The Karnataka State Reserve Police consists of 12 battalions: four in [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]] and one each in [[Mysore|Mysuru]], [[Belgaum|Belagavi]], [[Gulbarga|Kalaburagi]], [[Mangalore|Mangaluru]], [[Shimoga|Shivamogga]], [[Shiggaon]], [[Hassan, Karnataka|Hassana]] and [[Tumkur|Tumakuru]] 2 IRB battalions are situated in Munirabad (Koppala) and Vijayapura. Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) is a specially formed reserved force. They are well trained striking force.

=={{anchor|Karnataka Mounted Police}}Mounted police==
In 1951 the horses in the maharaja's bodyguard were used for the Karnataka Armed Reserve Mounted Police, headquartered in Mysuru. The stables, fields and office buildings date to the maharajas' time. Mounted police are used for traffic duty, night patrol, officer training and the [[Mysore Dasara|Mysuru Dasara]]. The force is made up of 90 horses and 150 officers and men.

Mounted-police riders still practice [[tent pegging]], and are also known for games, ceremonial parades and showmanship. Its riders have won a number of prizes in national and international equestrian competitions. The mounted police is headed by S. G. Mariba Shetti, who has won gold medals at the 1995 World Police Games in Australia (1995) and in 2001 in [[Indianapolis]] (2001) and has commanded the Dasara procession since 1977.

In January 2024 ''[[The Hindu]]'' reported that mounted police patrols were being reintroduced around [[Cubbon Park]] and the [[Vidhana Soudha]], the seat of the state legislature in [[Bengaluru|Bengarluru]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-01-11 |title=Why mounted police squads have been reintroduced in Bengaluru |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/mounted-police-squads-reintroduced-to-aid-hoysala-and-cheetah-teams-around-vidhana-soudha-in-bengaluru/article67731042.ece |access-date=2024-12-18 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Coastal Security Police==
The Coastal Security Police (CSP) was established in 1999, and is headed by the Superintendent of Police. It has jurisdiction over Karnataka's coastal waters along the Arabian sea from [[Talapady]] in [[Dakshina Kannada]] to [[Majali, Karnataka|Majali]] in [[Uttara Kannada]]; a coastline of about {{convert|320|km}}. Its range extends 12 nautical miles out to sea and 500 metres inland. The CSP comes under the Internal Security Division headed by [[Additional director general of police]] in Richmond Road, Bengaluru. As of January 2021, nine coastal police stations have been established and 13 "interceptor boats" are in operation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2021 |title=An Insight into Karnataka's Coastal and Maritime Security |url=https://www.theprotector.in/an-insight-into-karnatakas-coastal-and-maritime-security/ |access-date=18 December 2024 |website=Karnataka Protector}}</ref>

==Forest Cell==
The Forest Cell assists the Karnataka Forest Department with their operations.

== Policing Excess & Errors ==
Karnataka High Court ordered a departmental inquiry against policemen for filing false chargesheet under NDPS Act affecting careers and future of students.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Plumber |first=Mustafa |date=2024-09-16 |title=Karnataka HC Orders Departmental Inquiry Against Policemen For Filing False Chargesheet Under NDPS Act Against Students, Affecting Their Careers |url=https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/karnataka-high-court/karnataka-high-court-orders-disciplinary-action-police-officers-false-ganja-charge-sheet-against-students-269703 |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}}</ref> In another instance, [[Kerala Police]] arrested Karnataka police officers who took money from crypto traders.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Freeze & fleece exposed: Karnataka cops held for extorting Rs 4 lakh from crypto traders in Kerala |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2023/08/03/karnataka-police-held-in-kochi-extortion-case.html |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Freeze & fleece exposed: Karnataka cops held for extorting Rs 4 lakh from crypto traders in Kerala |language=en}}</ref> The Karnataka Police fired openly during the [[2008 Haveri police shooting]] causing two deaths, resulting in a judicial probe ordered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Indo-Asian News |date=2008-06-15 |title=Judicial probe ordered in Karnataka police firing |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/latest-headlines/story/judicial-probe-ordered-in-karnataka-police-firing-26321-2008-06-15 |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

=={{anchor|Police Training}}Training==
This wing is headed by the Director General of Police, Training, assisted by an Inspector General of Police (Training) and Deputy Inspector General of Police (Training). Karnataka has so many training institutions:
* Karnataka Police Academy, Mysuru
* Police Training College, Naganahalli, Kalaburagi
* Karnataka State Police Training School, Channapattana
* Karnataka Police Training school, Khanapura, Belagavi
* Armed Police Training School, Yalahanka, Bengaluru
* Police Training School, Aimangala, Chitradurga
* Police training School, Thanisandra, Bengaluru
*Police Training School, Kaduru, Chilkkamagaluru
*Police Training School, Dharwad
*Police Training School, Jyothi Nagara, Mysuru
*Temporary Police Training School, Navangar, Bagalkot

*Police Training School, Munirabad, Koppala
*Police Training School, Kangralli, Belagavi
*Police Training School, Vijayapura
*CCT Training Center, Kudlu, Bengaluru
*CCT Training Center, Agara, Bengaluru
*ANF Training Center, Karkala, Udupi
* Traffic Training Institute,RK Hegade Nagara, Bengaluru
* Special Branch Training Institute, Bengaluru
* Wireless Training Institute, Bengaluru
*Police Driving And Maintenance School, Yelahanka, Bengaluru

=={{anchor|Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Economic Offenses and Special Units|Directorate of civil rights enforcement|Communication, Logistic and Modernisation Wing (C.L&M)|Planning & Modernisation|Police Housing & Welfare}}Special units==
State-level units perform specialized police functions and assist civil-police units:
*''Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Economic Offenses and Special Units:'' Headed by a Director General of Police, the unit oversees the Corps of Detectives, the Forest Cell, the Economic Offenses Unit and the Cyber Police Station.
*''Directorate of Civil-Rights Enforcement:'' Headed by an Additional Director General of Police, Civil Rights Enforcement, and assisted by an Inspector General of Police, a Deputy Inspector General of Police and a Superintendent of Police at headquarters. the wing has six field units (each headed by a Superintendent of Police) at the police ranges in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Davanagere, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Mysuru. The directorate monitors and investigates cases registered under the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, and is the watchdog of rights and benefits extended to the [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]].
*''Communication, Logistic and Modernization Wing:'' Headed by an Additional Director General of Police, the wing consists of a Police Wireless Unit and a Motor Transport Organisation (both headed by a Superintendent of Police).
*''Planning & Modernization:'' Headed by an Inspector General of police, Planning and Modernization, the wing receives consolidation proposals for the police department and submits them to the government for approval.
*''Police Housing & Welfare:'' Headed by an Inspector General of Police, Grievance Cell and Human Rights
*''Internal Security Division:'' Headed by an Additional Director General of Police, the unit oversees the Terrorism and Naxalist in Karnataka State, Karnataka State Industrial Security Force(KSISF), Cyber cell, Forensic cell, and Bomb Detection Squad specially designed force called "Garuda Force" and ANF (Anti Naxal Force) units in it.

==See also==
* [[Bangalore City Police]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Organisation Structure Chat-Police Department |url=https://karnatakahelp.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Police-Department-organisation-structure-Details.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214081702/https://karnatakahelp.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Police-Department-organisation-structure-Details.jpg |archive-date=14 Feb 2024 |access-date=14 Feb 2024 |website=Karnataka Help}}</ref>{{commons category}}

{{State agencies of Karnataka}}
{{Law enforcement agencies of India}}

[[Category:State law enforcement agencies of India]]
[[Category:Karnataka Police| ]]
[[Category:Year of establishment missing]]
[[Category:1885 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in Mysore State]]

== External links ==
*[https://starofmysore.com/dgigp-dr-m-a-saleem-to-visit-mysuru-kodagu/amp/ 46th Batch of Probationary PSIs (Civil) at Karnataka Police Academy (KPA) Grounds] at starofmysore.com [[Star of Mysore]]

Karnataka State Police - Revision history

Kishore121 at 05:57, 30 March 2026