For the first time, the Mysuru city police held a mass counselling programme for listed criminals with a view to rehabilitate them to mainstream society.
Though such counselling sessions were held for Modus Operandi Bureau (MOB) cardholders comprising those had served their prison term or were facing criminal cases in courts, at police stations frequently, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) A.N. Rajanna said that the mass counselling programme was a first. “The programme was held as part of the ongoing Crime Prevention Month intiative.”
Reformed criminals, who had been released from prison after serving their sentence, and persons facing charges of murder, theft, robbery, burglary, dacoity, cheating, criminal breach of trust, and circulation of fake currency, attended the counselling programme held at City Armed Reserve (CAR) Grounds.
There are 3,048 MOB cardholders listed in Mysuru city police stations.
Senior police officials, including Police Commissioner M.A. Saleem, addressed the participants for three hours. Senior officials urged MOB cardholders to transform and become acceptable to the society. They may have committed a crime in a fit of rage, but they have an opportunity to reform, Mr. Rajanna said.
The police would also go out of its way to help them by recommending their names for jobs in private companies if they stayed away from crime and displayed good conduct. “Depending on their skills and education, the police would help them avail loan from banks,” he said.
Many cardholders also requested the police to close their cases.
