Book drug peddlers under Goonda Act, says Dy CM

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said the state government has written a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs to deport 107 overstaying foreign nationals. He said all of them would be deported after receiving a reply from the ministry.

Addressing the city police commissioner and other senior officers at a review meeting held at the commissioner’s office on Wednesday, Parameshwara instructed senior police officers to invoke the Goonda Act against drug peddlers. He said 169 cases were registered this year and that the police have arrested 298 people, including 28 foreign nationals, and seized 591 kg of banned drugs.

Beat policing

Parameshwara instructed city cops to improve beat policing and collect information about every new resident under their jurisdiction. Stressing on effective patrolling, the minister also asked the cops to keep a watch on the day-to-day activities of rowdy-sheeters and history sheeters so as to bring drown crime rate.

Parameshwara also had a word of caution for DCPs and ACPs who don’t visit police stations. “I received a message that deputy commissioners have not visited stations in their division even once. This cannot be tolerated. They have to visit stations at least once in a month and address the grievances of staff. DCPs and ACPs will be held responsible for crimes under their jurisdiction,” he said.

Parameshwara put the onus on senior police officers to ensure an incident-free Ganesha festival, from the time of installation of idols till their immersion. “There are a lot of anti-social elements indulging in communal violence. Stringent action should be taken against those trying to disrupt communal harmony,” the minister said.

He said the government was planning to give service revolvers to assistant sub-inspectors. The city police commissioner was asked to submit a report on the requirement of ASIs.

Rs 55 crore as fine

The city traffic police have registered 54,000 cases of violations and collected Rs 55 crore as fine. Noting that the number of vehicles in the city has gone up from 28.41 lakh in 2006 to 75.66 lakh now, Parameshwara asked cops to spend more time on improving traffic conditions on the roads.

He also presented new Suzuki Gixxer to some of the policemen.

Pay hike

The salaries of police constables will be increased as the government has decided to implement the sixth pay commission scales.

Real estate by police

Parameshwara warned action against police officers indulging in real estate deals. “Some police stations have turned into real estate centres. I have full details about every officer doing such work. But they should leave it once and for all or face the consequences,” he said.