The police in the twin commissionerates of Hyderabad and Cyberabad will launch a tenant verification drive and awareness campaigns in the city soon to ascertain the number of bachelors and families staying in the capital.
The exercise is aimed at preventing the city from becoming a haven for criminals. “During the cordon-and-search operations, we noticed that many house owners are letting out their properties to people without verifying their credentials. In a few houses, bangle workshops and other hazardous units were running wherein children were engaged in work,” a police official said, adding that the house owners are also liable for action in such cases.
During the investigation into Dilsukhnagar bomb blasts of 2012, the police found that those involved in the blasts rented a house at Abdullapurmet near Ramoji Film City. Similarly, the police also caught several notorious criminal gangs when they were taking shelter in rented houses. “We are also planning to prepare a database of all the rental agencies and brokers in the city. An awareness programme is also on the cards so that they are careful before arranging houses for those from outside the city,” another police official said.
During routine raids conducted on gambling houses and brothels, police in Hyderabad were surprised to know that the property owners did not bother to visit the rented units for months together. The tenants were asked by the owners to deposit the rent online through net-banking, a police official revealed.
The police in both the commissionerates have a system of ‘tenant verification system’ in place. The Hyderabad police are asking house owners to register their tenants through the Hawk Eye App. The App has a facility to upload the photographs and other details of the tenant.
In Cyberabad, police have put in a tenant verification system in place. The individual Residential Welfare Associations (RWAs) in Hyderabad have been handed out special tenant verification forms.
After filling it, the house owners should hand over the same to RWAs, who in turn will give it at the local police station. However, the results are not encouraging, officials say.
Cyberabad Commissioner C.V. Anand recently hinted at taking up a month-long tenant verification drive. With 70 lakh population and 650 square kilometres, the policemen here are finding it difficult to keep a tab on scores of colonies that are coming up rapidly. Moreover, lakhs of labourers and migrants from other States are taking shelter.
In accordance with law, the police also have the powers to seal the properties which are used for commission of any criminal offence. “If the house is sealed, the house owner has to face a lot of legal issues including attending the courts,” a police official informed.
