Wednesday’s murder of Binnamangala Krishnappa aka BEML Krishnappa, Janata Dal (Secular) leader and Bangalore Rural Zilla Panchayat member, near Nelamangala has prompted the government to mull extending the city police commissionerate’s jurisdiction to the city outskirts as well as pockets newly added into the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Policing problems
Disclosing this while replying to the Opposition members in the Legislative Council who expressed their concern over renewed goonda activities, which rattled the citizens, Home Minister R. Ashok noted that presently the areas newly added into the BBMP were not part of the Bangalore city police commissionerate.
This had come in the way of effectively tackling anti-social elements as the police on the city outskirts did not have the expertise to deal with career criminals, like those in the police commissionerate. “This is because the police on the outskirts have to focus on various tasks, unlike the Bangalore city police who have specialised forces for different tasks, including tackling of such anti-socials,” Mr. Ashok said, referring to the city’s Central Crime Branch that conducts special operations against rowdies.
Decision in a week
The decision on jurisdiction extension will be taken within a week to counter rowdies.
As an alternative to the CCB, an Anti-Rowdy Squad would be formed in the city’s outskirts which may not fall under the extended police commissionerate, he said.
The Minister was concerned that of late the anti-socials were trying to use juveniles, especially those in the age group of 15 to 16 years, to carry out crime activities as laws were not stringent with respect to juvenile crimes. The police were also somewhat apprehensive of complaints of human rights violations as it had become par for the course for the accused in some cases to turn to the human rights commission. Janata Dal (Secular) floor leader M.C. Nanaiah pointed out that human rights issues should not be a problem as long as the police don’t violate the norms and are able to convince the human rights commission.
Taking exception to the nexus between politicians and anti-social elements, he said: “The government should desist from yielding to political pressure in transfer of police officers as this is the root cause for the problems in managing law and order situation.”
Earlier, Congress MLA Roshan Baig accused the government of failing to maintain law and order in the State.
