Court summons ChandigarhSSP

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 21

The echo of the police action in Punjab against drug addicts is being heard in Chandigarh, it seems. The Chandigarh Police on Wednesday not only claimed that the snatchers on the prowl in the city were drug addicts and “repeat offenders”, but also submitted that the crackdown on drug trade and drug abuse in Punjab had contributed to a rise in snatching incidents in the city.

Visibly unimpressed with the measures taken by UTpolice to arrest the incidents of snatching, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the UT SSP to remain present during the hearing on April 3.

Taking up the matter, the High Court also impleaded the Union Home Ministry as a respondent in the petition filed in public interest by advocate Hari Chand Arora. The newly added respondent was asked to update the Bench on the decision taken on the proposal reportedly sent by the Chandigarh Administration for amending the IPC to make snatching a “non-bailable” offence, attracting a sentence of up to 10 years.

As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Chandigarh Police filed a short reply. Among other things, it claimed that various steps had been initiated for curbing chain snatchings and for bringing the offenders to book. The police added the needle of suspicion of the Chandigarh Police was revolving around “paying guest accommodations”. “All SHOs have been directed to conduct proper verification regarding the antecedents of paying guests,” the police said.

The reply also stated: “It has been seen that persons who stand as surety for such accused are either not traceable or are fictitious.”