Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said here today that the police would arrest assassins of rationalist and founder of the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (Anti-Blind Faith Eradication Committee) Narendra Dabholkar, "as soon as possible".

"I have full faith in the police that they will arrest Dabholkar's killers," Patil told reporters this morning at the Maharashtra Police Academy (MPA) here, when it was pointed out to him that Dabholkar's family members had demanded an inquiry into the murder by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Replying to a question about terrorist Usmani's recent escape from the premises of a Mumbai court, Patil said that it happened purely due to negligence of the police.
"We have suspended two policemen," he said, adding that the police is not allowed to handcuff or tie the hands of the accused with ropes and these restrictions have complicated police procedures.

When asked to comment on reports in a section of media that a dozen terrorists have entered Maharashtra, Patil denied any such development.

"So far, the government received 249 alerts from intelligence agencies and the police is keeping a close watch on crowded places like malls and temples, to prevent any attack by terrorists," he said.

Regarding insulting treatment meted out to women, including a woman police constable during the recent Ganesh festival by volunteers at Mumbai's famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh pandal, Patil said that the police is studying CCTV footage and would take proper action against the guilty.

Replying to a question about why the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was not used against real estate developers in cases of building collapses leading to loss of lives, Patil said that the MCOCA is being slapped on those with previous records of crimes.