Four booked under Goonda Act, six externed

Police initiate security proceedings against 753 persons and take bond of good conduct from them

City Police Commissioner Vipul Kumar speaking at a press conference in Mangaluru on Tuesday.

The city police have invoked Karnataka Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, Gamblers, Goondas, Immoral Traffic Offenders and Slum-Grabbers (Goonda) Act against four detenues and orders of externment has been issued against six persons, said Police Commissioner Vipul Kumar here on Tuesday.

The Gooda Act has been invoked against Abdul Raheem, an accused involved in illegal possession and sale of narcotic drugs, and Samit Raj, Manda Asif and Bipin Jogi, who are accused of creating communal tension. The city police have issued orders of externment for three months against Rahul, Suhas, Charan Raj and Harish Poojary. Orders externing for a period of six months have been passed against Guruprasad and Kaushik. They have been externed because police suspect that they might create some trouble during elections. Giving details of arrangements for the Assembly elections in the 877 booths of Manglauru City South, Manglauru City North, Moodbidri and Mangaluru Assembly constituencies, Mr. Kumar said the city police have initiated security proceedings against 753 persons and have taken a bond of good conduct from them. The police are keeping close watch on movements of 2,756 rowdy-sheeters and 90 persons who are suspected of creating disturbance in the city.

Mr. Kumar said the police have set up 26 checkposts, including six on the Karnataka-Kerala border areas. Police have identified 75 vulnerable areas where route marches of the city police and Central Armed Police Force are being conducted. So far, 206 route marches have been conducted, he said.

On the polling day on May 12, Mr. Kumar said 2,700 police personnel will be deployed. It includes personnel from Central Armed Police Force, Karnataka State Reserve Police and two squads of Special Weapons and Tactics.

The Deputy Commissioner, he said, has banned sale of liquor between 6 p.m. of May 10 and 6 p.m. of May 12. When pointed that the ban order will be lifted just as the voting ends, Mr. Kumar said: “The Election Commission has to look into it.” He said “there would not be any trouble in Mangaluru”.

Prohibitiory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code will be in force between 6 p.m. of May 10 and 6 p.m. of May 13. He said there will be a bar on holding of weekly market in Bikarnakatte and Karnad, respectively, on May 12.