Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Mar 2: Newly appointed district superintendent of police Nisha James conducted her first phone in programme at SP head office Bannanje here on Friday, March 1. A good number of calls were received by the SP.

Many calls on illegal sand mining in Kota, Kundapur, and Byndoor police station limits were received. There were calls on traffic problems in Udupi and matka, gambling, drunk and driving, and over speeding as well.

SP Nisha James assured that the police department will conduct special campaign to eradicate drunken driving in the city. “We will file cases under Motor Vehicles Act to control to penalise offenders,” she said.

Briefing on the overall discussion on the calls received, she said, “More complaints were received on gambling. All SHOs and constables have the responsibility of cracking illegal activities. There is lack of staff in the department, but still we have to manage wisely.

“Over illegal sand mining, there are some technical complications to register cases and take action against people who violates the rules of sand extraction and transportation. Mines and Geology department officials have to get the report on the case. The geologist has to submit report to the court to take action against them.

“We received calls over buses stopping everywhere violating rules,” she said.

Revealing details of the complaints registered and action taken till February 28, 2019, the SP said, “Five Matka related cases were registered and five were arrested, four cards playing and gambling case were registered and 24 were arrested, and three cases over illegal supply of liquor were registered and accused in all three cases were arrested.

“As many as 109 cases were registered under COTPA, 520 cases for using heavy horns, 35 cases for drunken driving, 132 cases for using mobile phones during driving, 3,249 for riding two-wheelers without helmet, 140 for over speeding, and 7,001 on other violations,” SP Nisha added.