Anti-dacoity squad set to flex muscles

PUNE, May 21: The anti-dacoity squad of Pune police, which was disbanded within a year after its formation in 1994, has been revived in the ...

PUNE, May 21: The anti-dacoity squad of Pune police, which was disbanded within a year after its formation in 1994, has been revived in the wake of the recent spate of dacoities reported from various parts of the city and its rural outskirts.

The decision was taken after the Additional Director General of Police M N Singh directed the Pune police to take immediate measures to curb property related crimes, said Additional Commissioner of Police M N Maheshgauri.

The strength of the squad has been increased to six sub-inspectors and 30 constables from that of a sub-inspector and five constables in 1994.

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Provided with two jeeps equipped with wireless sets, revolvers and muskets, the squad members will be allowed most of the time to gather intelligence about the activities of the history-sheeters.

Led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Vasant Pagare and inspector Vinayak Jadhav from crime branch, the squad has also been entrusted with various responsibilities like maintaining vigil in dacoits infested areas and carrying out frequent checks at lodges, guest houses and hideouts of the culprits involved in similar crimes. Besides, the police have also increased vigil at over 50 places spread all over the city which were identified as dacoity prone areas in a scheme chalked out in 1994 to curb dacoities.

Vehicles entering the city are also being checked at 14 strategic places on the five highways passing through the city.

The police have also intensified the vigil in various parts of the city at night time. At least three nakabandi exercises were carried out in the city during the last one month, Maheshgauri revealed.

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The city and its rural outskirts have witnessed a spate of dacoities since the beginning of this year. At least six major dacoities have been reported from various parts of the city and its rural outskirts during the last five month while in a separate case, six dacoits were arrested while preparing to strike near Bhosari in the last month.

Five persons were killed and 21 were injured in five separate dacoities reported from Hadapsar, Chinchwad, Indapur, Yevat and Daund areas since April 17.

Taking serious cognisance of these incidents, Additional DGP Singh has prepared a special plan to curb dacoities. Its implementation has started since April 22 this year.

Besides asking the city police and their counterparts from the rural areas of the district to step up the security arrangements, Singh has also directed the railway police and the highway safety patrol to intensify vigil at various railway stations, on trains and on various highways.