Date:18/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/18/stories/2008111852710300.htm

Other States - Puducherry

A challenging task for Puducherry police

Police may use services of Special Branch personnel to monitor gang activities, writes Rajesh B. Nair

The territorial police is facing a new challenge to maintain peace after the spurt in law and order problems in the aftermath of murders for revenge. The recent murder of three anti-social elements had led to a law and order problem.

Immediately after the murder of two anti-social elements in separate incidents a few days ago, miscreants made an attempt to block roads and close shops.

The situation brought back memories of the violence that followed the murder of an anti-social, Theisthan.

A few days ago, supporters of two anti-socials tried to block traffic and close shops, hearing the news about the murder of their leader. Timely police action prevented untoward incidents, though a few shops on Anna Salai remained shut fearing backlash.

“We have become victims of law and order problems. If we refuse to close shops, our workers are threatened. There is no guarantee that we will be provided police security,” a trader at Kamaraj Salai said.

A road-user, who was caught in the traffic when supporters of a murder victim, Kannan, attempted to close shops, said, “It is ironical that some persons with criminal background are made to look martyrs.”

Senior Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) Manish Kumar Agarwal said that the department had taken a serious note of the situation. “We have given instruction to Inspectors of all police stations to deal with such situations in a very strict manner. It is not a good sign to have a law and order problem every time someone is murdered,” he said.

The department had decided to hold a meeting with representatives of traders association to generate confidence in them. “We will provide adequate security to them in case of a law and order problem,” he said.

On the complaint given by relatives of Kannan against the leader of a political party in the incident, he said, “Only when the key accused is arrested, we will be able to say anything. As of now, we have not given a clean chit or made him an accused in the case,” he said.

A section of police officers, however, opined that there was some laxity on their part in preventing the incident as trouble had been brewing between the group led by Kannan and a rival gang for sometime. “Had we had gathered information, we could have been prepared,” an officer said.

Mr. Agarwal said that the department planned to bifurcate crime and law and order from investigation. Once the Union Ministry of Home Affairs gives its approval to create 450 additional posts in the rank of constabulary, the department planned to deploy more personnel for crime intelligence, he said.

Sources said that the department was considering using the services of personnel from the Special Branch to monitor the activities of gangs.

“It has to be done carefully because the role of the SB personnel is to gather information on developments in political parties and information on the activities of extremist organisations,” a senior officer said.

Officers also said that once the newly-introduced Puducherry Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2008, which awaits clearance from the Union government, becomes effective, such incidents could be prevented as the police would be able to make preventive arrests.