81 criminals declared proclaimed offenders

Commissioner of Police Shankar Bidari on Friday released a list of 63 cases wherein 81 accused have been declared as POs under section 82 of the CrPC. Most of the cases are heinous in nature and are punishable with death or life imprisonment. The list was obtained from the session courts, and another list of persons declared POs by the courts lower than sessions courts will be released soon, Bidari revealed.

What is shocking is the negligent attitude of the jurisdictional police concerned, who have not arrested any POs or taken any action to attach the movable and immovable property of the POs and to appoint receivers for the same. Viewing the lapse as serious on part of Station House Officers (SHO), the Commissioner directed the Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to take further action. The DCPs have been instructed to look into each one of the cases and instruct SHOs to make efforts to arrest the POs, produce them before the court, collect information regarding their movable and immovable properties, move the courts, attach property and to appoint receivers. Bidari has directed the DCPs to send progress reports regarding arrest of the POs everyday to the Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order).

Inquiry against inspectors

Bidari has also directed Assistant Commissioners of Police to conduct preliminary inquiries into failure of police inspector and staff concerned in executing the proclamations and submit reports within 15 days of recommending disciplinary action. The general public can give information leading to arrest of the POs. Such citizens will be given suitable rewards. The public are competent to arrest or cause to arrest of any PO as per law and hand him over to the nearest police station, added the Commissioner.