To nip poll trouble in the bud, 33 POs held : The Tribune India

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To nip poll trouble in the bud, 33 POs held

JALANDHAR: With just 28 days left for the Lok Sabha polls in the state, the State Election Commission is keeping a watch over criminal activities in the state.



Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April21

With just 28 days left for the Lok Sabha polls in the state, the State Election Commission is keeping a watch over criminal activities in the state. The police has been kept on its toes by the commission and told to apprehend the accused who can be a potential threat to the law and order situation during the elections. In this regard, the Police Commissionerate has nabbed around 33 proclaimed offenders (POs) ever since the Model Code of Conduct came into force. However, challenging the efforts of the police, as many as 2,490 POs are still at large.

The police have launched an extensive drive to nab the POs who have been absconding for the past many years. As per the figures received from the officials, among the 2,490 POs, there were around 720 offenders under sections 82 and 83 of the CrPC Act and around 1,770 POs under section 299 of the CrPC Act. Also, since January 1 this year, around 80 POs have been nabbed till now.

Notably, among the police divisions falling under the four constituencies of the city, the maximum number of POs (255) are registered at police division number 2, followed by 218 and 216 at police divisions 1 and 3, respectively. The west constituency, comprising the police stations— Basti Bawa Khel, Bhargo Camp and PS-5, have 302 declared POs.

As per the officials concerned, the POs have been booked for several crime including those rated as heinous. These POs are from various areas, including Punjab and its neighbouring states. Besides, NRIs hiding in Canada, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Dubai and Nepal, lodged for fraud, theft or under the NDPS Act, have also been declared POs.

DCP (Investigation) Gurmeet Singh said: “As per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Police Commissionerate has to submit reports of the arrested POs to the State Election Commission as there is always a fear that the absconders and trouble-makers can create disturbance during the polls. Therefore, a close tab is being kept through extra force and all Station House Officers (SHOs) have been instructed to hasten the task of arresting the accused having a free run.”

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