The police have launched a special drive against usury, namely ‘Operation Kandhu Vatti’, as announced by the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu.
According to the city police, the drive has been launched to protect people belonging to lower economic backgrounds, middle income families and traders who end up borrowing money from private lenders and later forced to pay exorbitant rates of interest.
Police sources said that Commissioner of Police V. Balakrishnan gave instructions to all personnel attached to all the police stations to take action against usury as per law.
A release issued by the police said that the Bazaar Street police received a complaint regarding usury recently and a case has been registered under provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Charging Exorbitant Interest Act, 2003.
The city police have appealed to those affected by usury to lodge complaints without hesitation.
Grievance redress meeting
Mr. Balakrishnan received complaints from the public at the first grievance redress meeting on Wednesday. The grievance redress meetings of the City Police Commissioner will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on first and third Wednesdays every month.
Tobacco products seized
Coimbatore city police seized 35 kg of banned tobacco products in a one-day special drive which started on Tuesday.
Seven special teams seized tobacco products from multiple shops and arrested 23 persons, said Mr. Balakrishnan on Wednesday.
Some of the accused had been involved in the same offence in the past and steps will be taken to slap provisions of the Goondas Act on them, he said.
