CCB to be strengthened; 7 addl posts sanctioned

Only 10 posts sanctioned since special wing was constituted

Finally, City Crime Branch (CCB), the exclusive force to deal with high profile and sensational cases has got a shot in the arm. Nineteen years after the crime branch was opened in the city, way back in January 17, 1995, the State government has sanctioned seven additional posts to further strengthen the wing.

According to Police Commissioner M A Saleem, in the government order (GO) issued on November 12, the news posts have been sanctioned, including one in the cadre of inspector, two sub-inspectors and four assistant sub-inspectors.

The city police authorities had been making consistent efforts to strengthen CCB, seeking additional posts to make it an effective mechanism. When the separate wing was introduced in Mysuru, the sanctioned staff were three - one each of ACP, Inspector and SI.

Recently, taking into cognisance the growing city posing newer challenges, the police commissioner had sought 40 men to the wing. It included, two each of Inspectors and SIs, four ASIs, 10 head constables and 20 constables.

As a temporary arrangement, till the required staff were sanctioned, policemen were deployed on ‘on official duty’ (OOD) to the wing. It had borne good results, with the wing cracking 72 cases in the last 10 months, by arresting 67 accused. The goods recovered are valued at Rs 1.29 crore.

Among the total 72 cases cracked this year, 22 are two-wheeler theft cases, valued at Rs 12.15 lakh; followed by 21 each of house burglary, theft and dacoity with recovery of goods worth Rs 79 lakh; six theft cases (Rs 34.69 lakh worth articles recovered); and one related to ordinary theft (Rs three lakh worth articles recovered).

Accordingly in the previous year, among 49 cases cracked, goods worth Rs 54.53 lakh were recovered. It included 19 two-wheeler theft cases (Rs 7.25 lakh), followed by 17 house burglary and theft cases (Rs 33.39 lakh), 12 dacoity (Rs 10.53 lakh) and one ordinary theft (Rs three lakh). In 2012, a total of 59 cases were cracked and articles worth Rs 72.60 lakh were recovered.

 It included, 31 dacoity cases and goods valued at Rs 15.54 lakh, followed by 11 ordinary thefts (Rs 26.60 lakh), six house burglary and thefts (Rs 4.53 lakh), five two-wheeler thefts (Rs 2.88 lakh), three ordinary thefts (Rs 15 lakh), two cheating cases (Rs 7.50 lakh) and one theft case (Rs 55,000). In 2011, a total of 55 cases were cracked -- 21 house burglary and theft cases were solved and Rs 38.44 lakh worth articles were recovered, followed by 19 two-wheeler theft cases (Rs 6.70 lakh), six ordinary thefts (Rs 2.34 lakh), five dacoity (Rs 1.22 lakh), two cheating (Rs 19.55 lakh) and one each of theft and ordinary theft (cars and other vehicles) totalling Rs 3.35 lakh.