Poll around, 2,841 fugitives a cause of concern for cops

Nikhil Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, March 19

As the Lok Sabha elections are round the corner, the Ludhiana Commissionerate has started scanning the list of fugitives and proclaimed offenders who have been enjoying a free run after committing various crimes.

The Election Commission has already told the police station heads and crime branch officials to intensify the drive to nab the criminals who are on the run and put them behind bars so that they may not create any law and order problem during the elections. The Commission reportedly wants arrest of those criminals on priority who are wanted in heinous crimes such as murder, attempt to murder, serious scuffles, etc.

As per the data obtained by the The Tribune, till February 28, 2019, there are as many as 2,841 proclaimed offenders who have been enjoying a free run after committing various crimes, of whom 505 are those who are wanted in

heinous crimes, including murder. Of them, 850 were declared POs under Sections 82 and 83 of the CrPC and 1,991 either disappeared during trial or failed to report back after bail.

Although the city police have a special PO cell which has been entrusted with the task to nab the wanted criminals, the unit has been struggling to fulfil the expectations of the seniors. The PO cell has only 19 personnel.

Interestingly there are as many as 67 fugitives who are hiding in foreign countries and of them, maximum 52 are hiding in Nepal, followed by eight in Canada, two in France, four in the US and one in Dubai. 

Sadar has maximum Pos, Tibba least

Sadar police station has a maximum of 273 POs, followed by 240 in Jodhewal, 209 in PS 5, 206 in Sarabha Nagar, 200 in Focal Point, 181 in PS 2, 146 at Sahnewal, 145 at Salem Tabri,120 at PS 1, 107 at Shimlapuri, 91 at PS 8, 83 at PS 3, 76 at Haibowal, 72 at Model Town, 59 each at Meharban and PS 4,  52 at Dugri, 51 at Koom Kalan, 48 at Daba, 40 at Daresi, 25 at PAU, 19 each at Moti Nagar and Women Cell, 18 at Ladhowal, 14 at Jamalpur,  who have been evading arrest for a long time. The Tibba police station has only three POs.

The numbers

• Till December 31, 2018, the number of POs was 2,695
• As many as 216 new POs have been added during the year
• 56 were arrested during the year.
• A total of 2,841 POs are yet to be arrested  

ADCP Zone-wise list of fugitives

• ADCP 1-868
• ADCP 2- 840
• ADCP 3-697
• ADCP 4-417
• Women Cell-19