The Lok Sabha elections have helped the Bangalore police and their counterparts across the State to update information of all anti-social elements whose number has been estimated at around 1,200. It has resulted in maintaining a watch on their activities, which did not merely enable a smooth election but also resulted in a drastic reduction in crimes.
Touted as one of the biggest preventive drives in the city, an all out effort was made to bring them all to the jurisdictional police stations and thereafter release them at the end of the day. Interestingly, seven anti-social elements were booked under the Goonda Act in the city ahead of elections.
Not only was the law and order situation in the city firmly under control during the polls, even the crime rate dipped.
Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) M.N. Reddi, who devised the “novel idea” of carrying out preventive arrests, has now suggested that the police across the State continue with the drive to ensure law and order. “We have instructed the Superintendents of Police and the Inspector-Generals of Police to prepare a list of anti-social elements in their area and book them under Goonda Act for any fresh violence and send them to prison depending on the situation.”
There are 500 anti-social elements in each district whose arrest under the Goonda Act can ensure peace for both police and general public, Mr. Reddi said.
