Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK/SP)
Mangaluru, Feb 11: The city police have invoked provisions of Goonda Act against two persons with criminal antecedents.
Addressing a press meet at his office here on Saturday February 11, city police commissioner M Chandra Sekhar said that Goonda Act has been invoked against Rohidas alias Akashbhavan Sharan alias Sharan (32), resident of Annanagar, Kapigudde Cross, Akash Bhavan, and Raheem alias Chappe Tanni Raheem (37), a resident of Kasba Bengre.
An aide of underworld element Vicky Shetty, Sharan faces 17 cases of serious offences out of which four relate to murder, one to murder attempt, another one about rape, three about plan to rob, one relating to conspiracy and arms act, three relating to assaults, and another towards making threatening call. Although these cases are in different stages of hearing in courts, Sharan is found to be continuing with his criminal and anti-social activity without any let up. After police inspector of Kavoor station, Nataraj M A, sent recommendation to the city police commissioner through his higher officials, to book Sharan under Goonda Act to restrain his involvement with criminal activities, city police commissioner approved the recommendation. Accordingly, Sharan was arrested on Friday February 10 and lodged in Vijayapura district central prison.
The police commissioner also informed that out of the 17 cases, Sharan was acquitted in the Yusuf murder case in 2015. He was the main accused in the Ramakrishna Bhat murder case, Kumar murder case, and Prashant Shetty murder case in 2012. He has booked under Goonda Act for one year.
Raheem alias Chappe Tanni Raheem (37), a resident of Kasba Bengre here, has been found to be in the habit of selling ganja, a drug, in public places and near schools and colleges.
Raheem was charged under 8 drug peddling cases, out of which he was acquitted in two. Although several of these cases are being heard by courts, Raheem has refused to correct himself. He continues to sell ganja as before. After Panambur police inspector, Lokesh A C, sent a report to the city police commissioner through the seniors in police department towards curbing this anti social activity, city commissioner, M Chandra Sekhar, gave his approval for invoking Goonda Act against him. Accordingly, Raheem was taken into custody on Friday February 10 under this act and sent to Shivamogga district prison.
Chandra Sekhar further said that in 2015, the police booked 49 cases after 24 raids on drug peddlers and 25 on drug addicts. In 2016, 239 cases related to drugs were booked, out of which 57 were against peddlers and 182 against drug addicts. In 2017, so far, 20 cases related to drugs have been booked, including 5 against peddlers and 15 against addicts.
The drug addicts are shifted to de-addiction centre, he added.
"In 2015, the police seized 16.65 kg of ganja, in 2016, 109 kg of ganja and 40 gm of cocaine were seized, and in 2017, the police have seized 12.3 kg of ganja and 11.5 kg of cocaine so far," he said.
The police commissioner also said that in the last four days, 8 cases have been booked against buses for stopping in the middle of the road which led to accidents. "These were cases of negligent driving. Also, we have booked 109 cases against passengers for acquiring seats reserved for senior citizens in private buses," he said.