Bengaluru: In a desperate bid to win the BBMP elections, the Congress government is turning aggressive to woo voters. After two years, the government has suddenly decided to invoke Goonda Act against chain snatchers. This was announced by Home Minister K.J. George here on Thursday.
The Goonda Act is a stringent law, which can be used against habitual offenders of heinous crimes and chain snatching, comes under petty crimes so it will be interesting to see how the government would defend its decision in future. George also said the government would give at least 40 more Hoysala vans to city police to intensify patrolling in areas, which record large number of chain snatching incidents.
Mr George also clarified that those who indulge in rioting would also be booked under Goonda Act. A total 683 cases of robbery and 638 cases of chain snatching were reported in the city between January 2014 and April 2015. Twenty six chain snatching cases reported in April, 2014 and 18 cases in April, 2015, he explained.
Mr George said that the home department placed a request for Rs 130 crore for modernization, including installation of CCTVs. Replying to a question on JD (S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, Mr George said the government had already ordered a CID probe into illegal and single-digit lotteries. “The government would take stringent action against those involved,” Mr George said.
On Kumaraswamy’s allegation that Mr George was also involved in the lottery business, the minister challenged the Janata Dal(S) leader to prove the charges by providing documents before the CID. Mr George said the Lottery Enforcement Wing, which was facing an acute shortage of staff, had been merged with the Police Department.
Regular police personnel have been provided powers to carry out crackdowns on illegal lottery operations. The government will take stringent action against Bangladeshis, who are staying here illegally.
