RR Patil takes police to task

Concerned with the rampant cases of illegal hooch trading, narcotics trade, gambling, prostitution and crimes on minors across the state, the Maharashtra home minister RR Patil came down heavily on the police department. Patil has directed all the senior police officers to carry out a drive to stop these crimes and submit a report on the action taken in two months.

In a recent circular issued by Patil, a copy of which is with DNA, he stated that, even after repeated briefings the police department failed to act severely on such crimes.

“This shows that such crimes have not been tackled effectively and continues to be a menace. This is a serious issue now. All the inspector generals of police, police commissioners and superintendents are therefore directed to personally look into these issues to ensure that such crimes don’t occur in their jurisdiction under any circumstances,” said Patil.

The circular added that, in order to put a stop to these crimes, special drives should be carried out by the police. “A report on action taken in this regard should be given by the director general of police to the home department within two months. And even then if such cases are found to be thriving in any corner of the state, then stern action should be taken against the concerned officer,” the circular states.

The Mumbai police chief Arup Patnaik has formed a special squad and specific instructions have been given to them to crackdown on the illegal liquor and prostitution business across the city.