Bangalore: 26,838 rowdies in state, 50 booked under Goonda Act: ADGP
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Mar 15: There are as many as 26,838 rowdies in the state, among whom 50 have been booked under the Goonda Act, informed additional DGP (law and order) M N Reddy.
Addressing a press conference at the DGP office here on Friday March 14, Reddy said that rowdies have been warned against indulging in any criminal activities during election time and said that surety bonds have been obtained from them in this regard.
He further said that 433 rowdies have been arrested for indulging in communal riots.
As many as 13,365 persons have been produced before the magistrates and further action has been taken, Reddy said.
The number of rowdies earlier was 17,935, and now it has risen to 26,838. "A close watch will be kept on every rowdy in the state. For the first time in the history of the state, 50 rowdies have been arrested under Goonda Act," he said.
"Between August 2013 and now, we conducted special investigation and booked 50 persons under the Goonda Act, among whom six were in Bangalore urban, one in Mangalore, four in Shimoga, four in Raichur, two in Hassan, 17 in Bangalore district, eight in Ramanagar, six in Tumkur, and two in Belgaum," he said.
"When Mangalore city police come with a request to book several rowdies under Goonda Act, it was our duty to take action in public interest, irrespective of the accused persons' religion or affinity to any organization," he added.
IGPs, police commissioners, SPs, DySPs and inspectors along with higher officials of the police department have been directed to keep a keen watch on persons indulging in rowdy activities, he added.
He further said that no one has been arrested as precautionary measure in the wake of elections.
However, as many as 62 central squads have been called to tighten security during the Lok Sabha elections. Reserve police forces from Kerala and Maharashtra will be called. Also, 53 KSRP platoons and 19,000 home guards will join the local police force.
Additional police security will be depoyed in Naxal affected areas, including Udupi-Chikmagalur, he said. Checkposts have been set up at border areas and round-the-clock checking is being undertaken, he said.