The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Organised gangs’ scale startles police Law and order

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Monday, Apr 21, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Organised gangs’ scale startles police Law and order

The finding that only three of the 11 extortion victims lodged a complaint surprises the police officials, writes Marri Ramu

There was nothing surprising when an alleged gang of extortionists recently admitted that it had extorted Rs. 1.2 crore from 11 different businessmen in the past six months.

But the finding that only three of the 11 extortion victims lodged a complaint with the police startled the police officials. When they sought to know what prevented others from approaching the police it came to the fore how groups of small-time offen ders are graduating as organised criminal gangs.

The gang of Mohd. Fayaz they had arrested was not the only group that was indulging in extortion by threatening people with knives and firearms in civil disputes. There are other gangs headed by Ayub Khan, Sheru and Khaiser who are not only resorting to extortion but also organising teams of pocket pickers, the police say.

Virtual scare

They don’t hesitate to kill those who approach the police. Scared of the gangs’ threats and ruthless retaliations, most of the victims are not sharing the details with their close relatives, let alone complaining to the police.

Leaders of the gangs lure youths - mostly hailing from poor families - to commit the crimes by offering monthly payments. Youngsters struggling to secure jobs to support their families naturally are tempted. Further, they fall easy prey to the supply of liquor and even women by the gangs.

How is it that law-enforcers are not aware of the gangs and failing to curb their activities?

Daring operation

Scared on seeing a gang wielding weapons, no person would dare to knock on the doors of a police station. In one case, a gang murdered an advocate and did a recce at the court complex to eliminate his brother whose crucial evidence would have resulted in conviction to its members.

On learning about such activities, no victim would come forward to lodge complaints. Even if someone dares, the ‘panch’ witnesses apparently worried of similar threats turn hostile eventually. Because of the easy and huge money they are earning, the gang leaders are spending any amount to get their associates released on bail.

Here, they are cleverly using the law to their advantage. Whatever be the charge -extortion, attempt to murder, murder, robbery - an accused cannot be kept behind the bars for more than two to three months as per the law.

No special laws

Earlier, the Government had brought out a special law - the A.P. Control of Organised Crime Act - to tackle organised criminal gangs. For some reason, it has been kept in abeyance. Police officials maintain that, in the absence of such special laws, they are unable to check such gangs.

One of the accused reportedly told the police that he used to ‘manage some policemen at field level’ and a constable even helped him secure school admissions for his children.

The question is would the police be able to control such organised gangs in the absence of stringent laws and some unscrupulous policemen allegedly aiding them?

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