The introduction of D – Colts (detective colts) and Tra-Colts (traffic colts), setting up of Sub-Controls and some other initiatives launched by the City Police have brought down the incidence of crime and road accidents in the city.
The arrest of a nine-member Irani Gang, led by Yousuf Ali, and recovery of stolen property worth Rs.50 lakh in April is a major breakthrough for the police this year. The gang that specialised in diverting the attention of customers at banks, jewellery showrooms and ATMs was involved in 112 offences at different places in the State. All the gang members were from Karnataka and Maharashtra and they had been involved in crimes there also.
In another case, an eight-member gang, led by Perisetti Kumar, that had ommitted 51 burglaries in the city and 20 house-breakings and thefts in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts, was busted and property worth about Rs.71 lakh was recovered by the police. A three-member chain snatching gang, involved in 14 cases under various police stations in the city, was busted and 40 tolas of gold ornaments worth Rs.12 lakh were recovered from them last month. Similarly, members of the West Bengal and Bihar gangs, indulging in various crimes in the city, were arrested recently. The initiatives taken by Police Commissioner J. Purnachandra Rao in the introduction of D-Colts, Tra-Colts and setting up of Sub-Controls had received the appreciation of the Director-General of Police V. Dinesh Reddy during the latter’s recent visit to the city.
“The D – Colts, introduced early this year, has proved to be very effective in checking the incidence of crime. There have been instances of the D – Colts police catching chain-snatchers on the spot. They are also giving information on locked houses, under their jurisdiction, so that the night beat policemen could keep extra vigil on them,” Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Mohd. Khan told The Hindu . “Apart from this, we are also keeping a vigil on offenders released from jail and old offenders. A total of seven crime check-posts have been set up at various places to check criminals from escaping on vehicles after committing crimes in the city.”
A total of 21 Sub-Control rooms, monitored either by an SI or ASI, have been set up at various junctions in the city and suburbs. These function from 8 a.m. to noon and again from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The objective of these Sub-Controls is to provide easy and quick access to the public.
