State Govt to beef up security

GANDHINAGAR, DEC 19: Concerned at the deteriorating law and order situation in Gujarat, Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya on Monday ...

GANDHINAGAR, DEC 19: Concerned at the deteriorating law and order situation in Gujarat, Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya on Monday admitted that the sudden spurt in crimes had quot;slightly erodedquot; the image of Gujarat as the quot;safest and most peacefulquot; State.

Pandya, however, said his department had taken as a challenge the recent incidents, including the multiple murder in Surat and the killing of a gangster near the Mirzapur court premises in Ahmedabad.

In fact, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel called Pandya to his official chamber in the afternoon and discussed the law and order situation with him. Patel, who also holds the Home portfolio, reportedly directed the department to initiate measures on a war footing to check such incidents.

Addressing a news conference here, Pandya said the department had initiated measures to contain crime and quot;instil a sense of security among the peoplequot;. On Sunday, senior police officers held separate meetings 8212; one each in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot 8212; where they reviewed the law and order situation.

While the minister himself was present at the Ahmedabad meeting, the one held in Rajkot was chaired by ACS Home V V Ramsubbarao. The meetings in other cities were attended by the respective police commissioners, the range IGPs and DSPs, where it was decided to intensify security in sensitive places like courts and jails.

It was also decided to post one Police Inspector and one PSI in the premises of each of the courts in urban centres during working hours. Besides, the police would carry out regular checking at hotels and keep a strict vigil at all entry points. Sounding a warning, Pandya said, quot;Lethargy, if any, on the part of the police will no longer be tolerated and erring cops will be handed out severe punishmentquot;.

Responding to a query, Pandya said though his department was concerned about the Surat killing, there was no move at present to transfer city police chief Kuldip Sharma. He declined to comment on Union Textile Minister and Surat MP Kashiram Rana8217;s demand for a total overhaul of the police set-up in Surat.

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The minister claimed that various factors like the current recessionary trends in markets, unempoyment and the prevailing drought situation were mainly responsible for the sudden spurt in crimes, especially those relating to loots and dacoities, in the State.