The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Steps to prevent anti-social elements from getting bail'

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Monday, Dec 06, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Steps to prevent anti-social elements from getting bail'

M.T. Shiva Kumar

Courts to be urged to be strict in the matter

2,897 proclaimed offenders moving
around scot-free
In 11 months, there have been 12 gang wars and over 300 murders

Bangalore: Bangalore city police are thinking of requesting courts to be stringent in granting bails to offenders in the wake of Saturday night's triple-murder incident, which sent shock waves across the city.

The rise in gang wars reported in the city has been attributed to the “easily available” bail from courts that have emboldened those involved in criminal activities.

Besides, many proclaimed offenders and first-time offenders, who have obtained bail from Sessions courts, have violated bail conditions by carrying out “gang wars” and anti-society activities, the police said.

It is learnt that 2,897 proclaimed offenders, allegedly involved in 1,818 heinous criminal activities, are moving around in the city scot-free since a few years.

“Anti-social elements are easily getting bail from courts. We have considered this as a serious issue and will take measures to prevent them from obtaining bail,” Bangalore City Police Commissioner Shankar M. Bidari said here on Sunday.

In the past 11 months alone, the city witnessed at least 12 gang wars and more than 300 murders, and most of the gang wars have been reported in Banashankari, Kathriguppe, Subrahmanyanagar, Peenya and surrounding areas. More than 60 notorious and small-time anti-social elements have been murdered.

Meeting

The Police Department has also proposed to convene a meeting of public prosecutors of the city to discuss the issue of bail to the accused.

“The public prosecutors will be provided all documents and criminal antecedents of the offenders, and urged to request the courts concerned not to grant bail to the accused,” Mr. Bidari said.

‘Book a case'

Meanwhile, public prosecutor Bagalahalli Vishveshwar said that police officials of stations concerned should book a case against bail violators, and emphasised the need for submitting all documents to courts while producing the accused.

The police, especially in case of habitual offenders, usually do not submit documents about the accused. They should convince the courts about the criminal background of the accused, he said.

Failure of police

Pointing at the failure of the city police in arresting proclaimed offenders, a retired Sessions court judge told The Hindu: “The city police lack investigation techniques. Many an accused, especially those in prostitution and gambling cases, are not attending courts in the State. They are duping the police by furnishing false details. In most cases the police do not verify the address of the accused.”

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