The Hindu : Karnataka News : A case of the fence eating the crop Law & order

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Saturday, Nov 17, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

A case of the fence eating the crop Law & order

Cases of private security guards turning to crime are rising, writes
K.V. Subramanya

Private security agencies themselves have turned into a major security threat as there is no official mechanism to monitor their activities.

Security agencies in Bangalore have been recruiting guards from different parts of the country without even checking their antecedents.

These guards are being deployed at several industries, offices, IT companies and housing complexes in the city.

There have been several cases of these guards, who are supposed to protect the lives and property, themselves committing murder, theft, burglary, robbery and other crimes. These incidents have proved that one’s safety is at risk at the hands of private security guards.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Gopal B. Hosur says that over the years several security guards have been arrested in connection with such crimes reported from the city.

In the most shocking incident, the Central Crime Branch officials recently arrested Afroze Ahmed Nehavi (40), managing director of a leading private security agency, and his two accomplices who were allegedly extorting affluent persons using the name of Karnataka Liberation Front (KLF), a “letterhead” organisation they had floated to terrorise the public.

Nehavi (40), a native of Srinagar in Kashmir, floated KLF after he was reportedly influenced by the activities of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

Afroze is the managing director of the Indiranagar-based Prime Corporate and Allied Services, which provided security guards to several leading companies and apartments in the city.

Through the security guards posted at flats/houses of rich people, Nehavi ascertained their financial position and other relevant details.

Later, the accused posted threatening letters on the KLF letterhead demanding hefty ransom, Mr. Hosur said.

For instance, the accused sent a letter to Maya Ahuja, a resident of Yelahanka New Town, who recently sold some landed property, demanding Rs. 30 lakh.

The letter said: “We are from KLF and are armed with automatic weapons. We have our people all over Karnataka. We have noticed that you have made a lot of wealth in our State by selling property. We need your support in our mission and pay us ransom of Rs. 30 lakh. This is our last warning…There are lot of politicians, government officials and cops involved in this organisation. So don’t play games.”

They had also posted a similar letter to the wife of Madhusudhan, proprietor of an event management company, who was shot dead at his office in Indiranagar in July. Nehavi’s agency was providing security to Madhusudan’s office too.

As Bangalore, particularly the IT companies situated here, is high on the terrorist radar, senior police officers fear that terrorist networks could use unscrupulous security guards to help them in their activities.

Mr. Hosur admits that a well-knit mechanism should be put in place to monitor the activities of private security agencies. Keeping in view the entire range of issues, the Union Government has come out with a Bill to regulate the working of private security agencies.

Once this law comes into force, it would be mandatory for all private security agencies to register themselves with the regulatory body. All and sundry cannot set up a security agency as is being done now.

Under the proposed law, officials would be empowered to monitor these agencies, Mr. Hosur says.

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