The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Tigers turn into pussycats

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Tuesday, Jun 21, 2011
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Karnataka - Bangalore

Tigers turn into pussycats

Staff Reporter

Rowdy-sheeters land up at police station for refresher course

— PHOTO: BHAGYA PRAKASH K.

SEE, MY HANDS ARE CLEAN:Old acquaintances catch up at the Ashoknagar police station in Bangalore on Monday.

Bangalore: “A life in crime ends only in two ways – unnatural death or jail,” said Tanveer, an ex-rowdy-sheeter, one among the 100 gathered at the Ashoknagar police station here on Monday afternoon.

Rowdy-sheeters from the areas under 11 police stations of the Central Division got a talking from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP- Central Division) G. Ramesh in a “rowdy reformation effort” by the city police.

Asked to live life with honour and honesty, the DCP enquired into their current employment and welfare. “The interaction is to ensure the welfare of the rowdy and keep a close eye on his assimilation in society. The police will extend all the support,” he said.

DCP Ramesh cited Mr. Tanveer as one of the success stories of the programme. He first made it to the notorious sheet in 1979, and decided to join the reformation programme in 1996 after his son went blind. “I realised then that it was God punishing me for my sins,” he said. He was acquitted in his last case in 2003, and since then has been running a showroom in Austin Town.

‘Media circus'

However, many reformed rowdies, who said they were attending the event out of fear of the police, dismissed it as a media circus. “They don't do this every few months as they claim,” said one. “They do this every time a new ACP, DCP or Circle Inspector is appointed and he wants to show something is being done,” they said.

“I had to leave my job and come here to be paraded,” said Raja. The 48-year-old carpenter had nine cases against him till about a decade ago. “If we don't show up, they think we're up to no good or are absconding. I've to bring my worktools to show them that I've an honest job now,” he said.

Umesh (21), who had been in jail for eight months for stabbing a man two years ago, said he stood to lose out on the day's wages at a car service centre because of this event.

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