You will pay for your lapses, says CM

Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday sent out a strong and clear message to police top brass that failure in curbing crime and illegal activities would not be tolerated and erring police officers would made to pay for their lapses.

Addressing a meeting of senior police officers for the first time since he took the top job in the state, Siddaramaiah warned the law enforcers that their failure to check illegal activities like live bands, gambling in the guise of running video game parlours and cricket betting would earn them severe punishment.

“The jurisdictional police officers will be held responsible for such illegal activities and will be dealt with severely,” the chief minister told police officers.

Siddaramaaih said illegal activities such as live bands, video parlours that allow gambling and cricket betting could not function without the knowledge of local police officers.

Turning to city police commissioner BG Jyothi Prakash Mirji, the chief minister asked if he agreed with him, and Mirji nodded in agreement. Siddaramaiah directed him to put an end to such activities in the city.

“It would be assumed that either the police are inefficient or the police are cooperating for such illegal activities,” the non-nonsense chief minister observed, asking them to pull up their socks. Effective policing in their jurisdiction could solve many problems in advance and would create a good atmosphere and instill confidence among the people, he said.

“We have come to power by promising people better, corruption-free administration. If police officers cannot stop illegal activities in their jurisdiction, how can I face the opposition and how can I assure safety to the general public who have elected me to see a change for better”, he questioned the police officers.

The chief minister also directed the officers to avoid illegal activities from the jail premises. He said when he was excise minister, he received a threatening call from a prisoner arrested for peddling spurious liquor in Kamaripet.

Siddaramaiah asked Additional Director General of Police (Prison) KV Gagandeep how the mobile phones reached the prisoners. Gagandeep replied that he taken suspended police officers remiss. Not convinced with the reply, the chief minister told him the suspension was not a solution for the problem and asked him to stop the supply of mobiles to the prisoners.

Siddaramaiah also suggested that police treat public with respect when approached.

“Police should treat the people with respect who visit the station with the grievances and try to resolve their problems. They should not register the complaint only because the ruling MLA has advised them to do so”, he said.

Home Minister KJ George who was also present at the occasion said that the police should have a good rapport with the general public. He advised police to hold meetings with the live band owners to abreast them about the situation. George reminded that they had a duty to prevent spread of Maoism, and allow Maoists to surrender. The police should allow the naxals to surrender and help them to get into the mainstream. However those who oppose these ideas should be dealt with strictly, he said.