Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Dec 21: "Most of the thieves sell the gold ornaments they steal or rob to small and medium size jewellery shops, and never to large jewellery marts. Therefore, people running jewellery shops should be extra cautious to make it certain not to buy stolen items. If the same person approaches them repeatedly to sell gold, the concerned jewellers should pass on this information to police," advised district superintendent of police, Annamalai.
He was speaking at the programme of interaction organized at Kediyoor Hotel here on Saturday December 19 with the office bearers and members of the jewellers association here.
"Compared to rural belts of northern districts of Karnataka, jewellers here exercise more caution. Only a handful of them have been found to be buying gold at relatively low rate, in spite of knowing well that the ornaments offered to them were stolen. Whenever this happens, we do not have any other option but act as per legal provisions. At present, the situation of dragging away jewellery owners unnecessarily by the police does not exist in the district. None of the jewellers will undergo atrocity at the hands of the police. If any of them come across misbehaviour from police, they can inform me," he said.
Annamalai felt that the thieves seem to have realized that robbing or stealing of gold ornaments is the simplest means to make money. He pointed out that the thieves who get jailed come in contact with experienced thieves in jails and become more skilled. Therefore, he advised the owners of jewellery stores to install high quality day and night CCTV cameras in their shops, duly pointing two cameras facing front view of the shop and also backside. "Those running bigger shops have to appoint watchmen as added security. We will take steps to pass on instructions to jewellery owners on this aspect in due course," he stated.
The SP warned the jewellery owners against paying money to police stations in the name of providing security to their gold items. "Corruption happens to me my sworn enemy, and I will take action if such a practice comes to my notice. The government is paying salary and allowances that are enough for policemen to lead a decent life," he added. When his attention was drawn to collection of funds for sports meet of policemen, he said he had instructed police personnel not to collect money from public for sports meet, as police department gets money for this purpose from the government. He said that the money the department gets is enough to organize sports meet in a simple way.
President of Jewellers Association, G Jaya Acharya, general secretary, Ramacharya, and secretary,Sunil Shet, and treasurer, Ravishankar Shet, were present.