Date:02/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/02/stories/2007080261281400.htm

National

More powers for police to handle criminals

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: To enable the police to handle hardcore criminals with a firm hand and in view of the rising incidence of criminals attacking the police, the Maharashtra Government would relax the Human Rights Commission’s restrictions, particularly the one needing a CID probe in each case of police firing.

“We will allow the police to use weapons against criminals for self-defence and to protect property,” Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil told the State Assembly on Wednesday. It would be for the Government to decide which firing the CID should probe, he said.

Mr. Patil was replying to the Opposition-sponsored discussion on law and order in the State. The police would surely retaliate against the criminals’ attacks, he said. The Maharashtra police had raised an anti-robbery unit of 1,700 policemen to deal with the growing cases of robbery.