The Hindu : Other States / Bihar News : Bihar criminals on the run; people relieved

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Monday, Apr 11, 2005

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Bihar criminals on the run; people relieved

PATNA, APRIL 8. More than a month after imposition of President's rule, is Bihar ready to shed the tag of being a lawless State? Officials paint an optimistic picture but political parties are divided.

``There is a `substantial' improvement in the crime situation in the State during the past one month. You can ask any common man about it,'' Director General of Police (DGP) Narayan Mishra told PTI today. Chief Secretary K A H Subramanian, who is also special advisor to Governor Buta Singh, agrees with the DGP saying arrest and surrender of over 15,000 criminals out of 20,000 absconding is a proof to it.

Former DGP R R Prasad, who had gone on record to say that ``I am a caged warrior'' was more forthcoming. ``Earlier the police were demoralised because of political interferences in favour of anti-socials, now it is the criminals who are on the run.''

But the political opinion is divided on the issue. While Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP and the State Congress are patting the President's rule for a lowering of the crime rate, RJD dubs the claim as ``hollow''. The BJP is also highly sceptical of the results of the administration's anti-crime drive.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patna, Nayyer Husnain Khan said crime has come down in the State Capital in a big way due to intensified police campaign. More than 1200 anti-socials, many of them hard-core, have been arrested in the past one month and many vehicle-lifter gangs smashed during the special drive, he said. Indian Medical Association (Bihar) President Capt. Vijay Shankar Singh said doctors, who had been frequently targeted by criminal gangs for kidnapping and extortion money, are ``feeling relieved'' in the changed situation.

There is report of only one doctor receiving extortion call in the past one month across the State, he said.

Official reports from districts indicate an improvement in law and order situation.

The Superintendent of Police, Begusarai, Sunil Kumar Jha, claimed there was a ``remarkable decline'' in cases of dacoity, loot and murder in the district in March. Reports from Muzaffarpur said 542 criminals have been arrested during the period.

Siwan, which was notorious for being a criminals' den, also saw a drive against the crime. Illegal liquor worth Rs 60 lakh have been recovered in the past one month following intensified anti-crime campaign launched under the supervision of Distriact Magistrate A K Anil and SP Ratna Sanjay, official sources said.

Siwan strongman and RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin has been barred from entering the district for six months since February Assembly elections.

Official reports from Darbhanga, Purnea, Vaishali, Madhepura and Gopalganj districts show a declining crime graph. Governor Buta Singh regularly monitors the crime situation in the State and gives necessary directions to the officials to further tighten the noose around the law-breakers, official sources said. -- PTI

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Bihar criminals on the run; people relieved

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