Inquiry into Katol poll violence to be completed in one month

Mumbai, Apr 17 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today said the inquiry into the poll-related violence at Katol during campaigning for Ramtek Lok Sabha by-election, in which an FIR has been registered against Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, will be completed in a month's time.

Replying to a debate on the opposition sponsored resolution on the law and order situation in the State, Mr Patil said police should be allowed to carry out their investigations. There is a cross complaint by the Congress against Shiv Sena leaders including executive President Uddhav Thackeray.

''Even though police say that Mr Thackeray and the other Sena leaders mentioned in the cross complaint were not present in Katol at that time, the police account is not considered admissible evidence,'' he said.

Mr Patil made it clear that it was incorrect to demand arrest if a FIR has been registered. ''It looks like the opposition leaders' demand for an immediate arrest of Mr Rane comes out of personal grudge.'' The Deputy Chief Minister said the government had taken a serious note of the growing incidence of dacoity in the districts bordering other states.

''We plan to co-ordinate with Chief Ministers and Home Ministers of the neighbouring states for exchange of information regarding criminals,'' he said.

Culprits arrested in connection with theft and robbery in Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pune are mostly from other states who come to Mumbai and nearby areas in search of jobs. ''When they fail in finding a source of living, they try their luck in robberies for large amount of money before fleeing back to their native place,'' he said.

Recording information of people coming from other States to Mumbai like their personal profile and background can be a solution to keep a watch on such criminals, he said.

Mr Patil said there have been 17 instances of dacoity in recent times. Of these, police have solved five cases. As many as 13 dacoits have been arrested and 13 people have died in dacoity incidents. Majority of the accused arrested belong to the Pardhi community.

Referring to violent demonstrations to protest against load-shedding, Mr Patil said power situation would not improve by distroying public property.

''As per information with us, property worth Rs 15 crore has been damaged due to violent protests. The government is contemplating on enacting a legislation to recover the cost of property damaged from the organisers of the demonstration if it turns violent,'' he said.

Mr Patil said he did not find anything wrong in the book brought out by former Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy to mark 150 years of Mumbai police.

''It is a book depicting the history of the police force. If the bravery of Mumbai police has to be mentioned, photos of gangsters it dealt with will come,'' he said, adding that if Rs 33 lakh was utilised from the police welfare fund for the book, about Rs six crore is expected in return as the book has evoked keen interest from various quarters.

To this, BJP leader Eknath Khadse took objection saying on what grounds the photographs of gangsters like Dawood Ibrahim and Arun Gawli have been published when the police have not been able to take any action against them. Mr Khadse also criticised Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil's statement that crores of rupees have been put into the Police welfare fund by selling the telecast rights of the Diwali extravaganza in which several top Bollywood artistes are invited to perform.

Referring to the Ramesh Govekar case in Malvan, Mr Patil said investigations to locate the missing Shiv Sainik have been handed over to the CBI and the State police will provide all necessary help in conducting the probe.

Mr Patil also agreed that groupism in the police force existed and he was trying his best to stop it. ''If such a thing still persists, action would be taken against officials,'' he said.

He said the government was embarking on recruitment drive in the police department every year due to lack of training facility, the Home department was unable to fill in the vacancies at one time.

''Like last year, 11,000 posts will be filled this year as well,'' he added.

UNI