With brutal killing of rowdy-sheeter Mohammed Khasim on August 2, 2018, gang wars once again came to light in the city. To control them, rowdy-sheeter Merugu Chittibabu alias Chittimamu, who runs a gang, was booked under PD Act and murder case, and put behind the bars. Supporters of rowdy-sheeter Anil as well as Khasim, who ran another gang, were told to move out of the city. The police are leaving no stone unturned to control the gang wars in the city and have increased their vigil on the movement of the rowdy-sheeters. And the prime reason behind is the increasing number of rowdy-sheeters in the city.
According to police records, there are about 450 rowdy-sheeters spread across various areas, including Arilova, Kancharapalem, Gajuwaka and various other police station limits in Visakhapatnam city, in which about 120 are said to be active.
In the last four years, there were at least 10 murders, which were fallout of inter-gang rivalry.
Fatal attraction
“Fascination over the gang culture, lack of proper parental counselling, peer group influence, many youths have been associating themselves with gangs. They join in some local rowdy-sheeter gangs and involve in crime,” said a senior police officer from the city. According to him, in the active 120 rowdy-sheeters, almost half of them are youngsters and school or college dropouts.
Police say that while some work under rowdy-sheeters, a few commit crimes in a fit of rage and most of them are unaware of the consequences and spoil their future. Police also fear that these gangs may engage youngsters in the ongoing revenge attacks
Counselling conducted
A couple of days ago, the City Task Force (CTF) police had conducted counselling programmes to a number of rowdy-sheeters for a span of three days.
“After the Khasim’s murder last year, we want to make sure that there are no more revenge attacks. So all the active rowdy-sheeters were summoned and counselled. We asked them to lead a peaceful life after taking up some occupation. We also warned of strict action, if they indulge in any crime further,” said Mahendra Mathe, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP-CTF), speaking to The Hindu .
The ACP also said that additional surveillance is being kept on the rowdy-sheeters and their activities are being monitored by the Police Department to prevent further outbreaks of violence in the city.
