'Strengthen security around colleges, varsities'

In the backdrop of the incident of kidnap and filming sex video of two medical students at Deralakatte, Health and Family Minister U T Khader has instructed the police department to strengthen the vigilance and security in the areas surrounding colleges and universities in Mangalore North constituency.

He was briefing mediapersons after convening a meeting of the police department and representatives from educational institutions to discuss measures to keep a tab on anti-social elements in the college campus in his constituency. Mangalore North constituency accommodates several professional colleges and universities including the Mangalore University. 

He said that he has directed the police to identify and list out the names of habitual offenders and exam repeaters to monitor them. 

The college has no control over the exam repeaters who come from other States and stay here for even three to four years only to make repeated attempts to pass the exam. Such students are trouble makers and there is need to check their activities, he said.

Strengthen system

The police were also asked to collect details about the shops and canteens located near the colleges as these shops too are at times the centre of anti-social activities like sale of drugs. “Police check posts will be set up near the colleges and universities and police patrolling in college areas will be intensified.

CC TV cameras will be installed in some of the important junctions. Intelligence and police on mufti too will be strengthened. Steps will be taken to ensure that no gangs are allowed to hang out at shops in the college surroundings,” he said.

In the meeting, the Minister directed City Police Commissioner R Hithendra to prepare an action plan to improve the security and monitoring near colleges and universities in the city. He paticularly emphasised the police not to entertain any interference from political leaders on criminal matters. “I have also asked the police commissioner to convene regular meetings with jail authorities, as jail has become a safe haven for habitual offenders. There is a need to create fear among anti-social elements and offenders about the law. No case should be closed without being reported and the police should file suo-moto case even if the complaint is not registered,” he said.

Khader has also asked the college authorities to join hands with the police to improve security and vigilance around the campus.