Patna High court asks Bihar government to raise STF

Patna, Sep 5 (UNI) Patna High Court today directed the state government to raise a Special Task Force (STF) to expedite the process of arresting criminals involved in kidnappings and file a progress report in this regard on November 6.

During the hearing of a Public Interest Petition, a division bench of the court comprising Chief Justice Dr J N Bhatt and Justice Shivkirti Singh directed the state DGP to constitute the STF and arrest all absconding criminals involved in kidnappings and extortion cases.

The court also directed the state government to ensure speedy trials of the criminals arrested in connection with such crimes.

Earlier counsel for the petitioner informed the court that only 386 criminals were arrested within the past one month while the total number of absconding criminals involved in these cases were more than 5000.

The court was also informed that there was a spurt in kidnapping cases in five districts -- Patna, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Katihar, and Purnia.

Additional Advocate General submitted before the court that the state government was taking sincere steps to arrest the criminals and ensure speedy trials.

He informed that 245 accused in kidnappings and extortion cases were convicted during January-August, 2006.

UNI XC-BNG JYN LS KP1851