1.5k history sheets closed in 2 yrs, but Bengaluru still has active 6k rowdies

Bengaluru: Bengaluru still has 6,346 active rowdies — individuals involved in serious crimes — despite the police closing a record 1,548 history sheets over the past two years in an effort to streamline their crackdown on organised crime. 

In 2024 alone, the police closed 1,172 history sheets — the highest in a year — to focus on monitoring active rowdies while preventing harassment of those who have reformed. The year before, 376 history sheets were closed, according to data from the City Crime Records Bureau (CCRB). 

A history sheet is filed against individuals who repeatedly commit serious crimes, such as causing or intending to cause harm. It serves as a tool for the police to monitor their activities and prevent future offences. 

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda explained the rationale behind closing so many history sheets in a year. 

"In the past, history sheets were opened even in cases arising from petty arguments and offences like attempted murder (IPC section 307) and causing harm with a weapon (324)," he told DH.  

Secondly, history sheets remained opened against bedridden or deceased individuals, as well as those who had left Bengaluru long ago, he added. 

Since rowdies are routinely called to police stations to verify their whereabouts, this process risked alienating and offending reformed individuals, Dayananda said. 

"The purpose of opening history sheets is surveillance. If a rowdy’s movements aren’t visible, it becomes difficult for the police to track them. So we started closing reports against those who no longer posed a threat," he said. 

According to the top police official, when there are too many history sheets, investigators struggle to monitor all individuals. Now that the list has been trimmed, they can maintain stricter vigilance while focusing on those who remain a threat, Dayananda explained. 

A deputy commissioner of police, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that closing rowdy sheets has significantly reduced land mafia activities in Bengaluru. 

Other measures, such as invoking the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) and the Goonda Act to imprison prominent rowdies, have also played a key role, he added. 

"Only the most notorious rowdies are part of the land mafia. By invoking KCOCA, we were able to jail these rowdies and their associates, reducing the fear they instilled in builders and realtors," the DCP said. 

The Bengaluru police have invoked KCOCA against 108 rowdies since June 2023, and conducted raids on 5,398 rowdies in 2023 and 2024. 

The police also relocated prominent rowdies like Nagaraj alias ‘Wilson Garden’ Naga to other jails within the state. 

With these rowdies behind bars, the sleuths can now monitor and control those involved in petty crimes more effectively. 

The DCP also noted that simple measures, such as restricting mobile phone usage inside prisons, will further help in cleaning up the real-estate sector.