Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 9: Taking serious view of increased rowdy activities in the city limits during the last some days, the police department has taken the decision of setting up two anti-rowdy squads within the city commissionerate to decimate rowdy forces working in its jurisidciton.

As per the order issued in this connection, one squad each will function under southern police subdivision and northern subdivision limits. An eight-member anti-rowdy squad lead by assistant commissioner of police, Rama Rao, was formed for southern subdivision which covers Ullal, Konaje, Kankanady and some other areas, recently. The squad which will work under north subdivision covering Panambur, Suratkal, Mulky, Bajpe, Moodbidri, Mangaluru rural , Kavoor etc, will come into being shortly.

Police commissioner T R Suresh

SP Sudheer Kumar Reddy

It is learnt that at present, the police do not have any proposal to form such a team under central subdivision.

The police force recently noticed with alarm about an upswing in rowdy activities between September 26 and October 4, during which period three persons were killed in a matter of a week. The rowdies went on to execute murders at Farangipet on September 26 and Mukkacheri on October 4. In view of this grave situation, city police commissioner, T R Suresh, took the crucial decision about the formation of anti-rowdy squads.

Anti-rowdy squad was in existence in the city in the past. The squad, which was initially set up under the leadership of efficient police inspector, Jayant V Shetty, continued to function till 1999. The then superintendent of police, A M Prasad, had formed the squad under Shetty in view of heightened activities of rowdies between 1994-95 during which period, rowdies sponsored by Mumbai-based underworld had executed several unlawful activities including murder and stabbing members of other gangs. The squad had dug out the history of all the rowdies, and registered various cases and recommended to book some of them under Goonda Act. In later years, the acts of rowdyim had come down, and the squad therefore lost its relevance.

City police commissioner, T R Suresh, said that a list of rowdies would be prepared and they would be summoned to police stations for either issuance of warning or suitable legal action. Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police, Sudheer Kumar Reddy, noted that there are about 1,000 rowdies in the district and that those who are active will be summoned frequently to issue warning.

Jayant V Shetty, retired deputy superintendent of police, who once had headed such a squad successfully, said that the squad will succeed only if a dedicated police team which is devotedly committed to its objective is assigned with the task. "The activities of rowdies should be strictly followed. New technology has been developed and the problem of drugs has also aggravated. Therefore, an experienced team of police personnel should be posted to the squad," he opined.