The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : A loud and clear message

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 19, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

A loud and clear message

Police keep watch on 60 ‘A’ category anti-socials, writes L. Srikrishna

The arrest of Madurai-based gangster Azhagar and his accomplice recently in the city has sent strong signals to anti-socials that there is no room for law offenders.

With improved intelligence inputs coming in from different sources about the movement of anti-socials and gangs, Commissioner of Police G. Nanchil Kumaran reviewed the activity of anti-socials leading to the arrest of Azhagar and others. Police source s said that 2008 has begun with a bang.

The incident, however, came at a time when law offenders seem to be lying low or have shifted base to the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Coupled with this were the few encounters last year, including those in which “Vellai” Ravi and “Punk” Kumar were killed.

In addition, the police are also keeping a close watch on the activities and movements of around 60 ‘A’ category anti-socials who had committed grave offences in the past, particularly when they came out from Puzhal Prisons on bail. Similarly, the activity of about 15 gangsters whose names figured in complaints of ‘katta panchayat’ (kangaroo courts) from businessmen in connection with cases pertaining to land-grabbing, eviction of tenants and recovery of debts are also being constantly monitored.

After the arrest of Azhagar, police started hunting for “Dog” Ravi, a rival gangster involved in many serious offences.

Finding it difficult to remain underground, he surrendered before a court in Madurai which detained him in the prisons, an officer said. Such a chase will be launched against other anti-socials too, a police officer said.

Apart from watching anti-socials in the city, police have also recorded fingerprints of suspects from other States during random checks. This practice was started recently since the fingerprints lifted from the scene of crime in a few cases did not match with those available in the finger print bureau, officers said.

To escape from the eyes of police, some anti-socials rope in outsiders. In the Mangadu robbery case too, police are examining the role of criminals from other areas.

Explaining the modus operandi in such cases, the officer said that after committing the crime, the burglars handed over the stolen properties to their counterparts here and slipped away.

After sometime, they get their share through agents.

It is in this backdrop that the police have started day-time patrolling too.

The concept of “round-the-clock” check has had a salutary effect since launch of the system a week ago with a significant decline in the number of offences during daytime in residential localities, an officer at the police control room said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu