POLICE TO TACKLE DRINK AND DRIVE MENACE

Madikeri January 27, 2010

IGP South Zone, Jeevankumar Gaokar has said that he has instructed the district police to tackle ‘drink and drive’ menace in Kodagu.

Talking to this correspondent here yesterday, Gaonkar said that accident rate in the district are raising and most of them are occurring due to alcohol consumption during driving. He informed that ‘breathe analyzer’ would be used to identify such drivers in the main roads, especially during night time.

Gaonkar also said that anti social elements may enter Kodagu at any time as Home Stay facilities are available now. He said that police will verify Home Stay records and they should maintain records. He also noted that all the Home Stays in the district are not registered and the Deputy Commissioner would be requested to look into such cases and get them registered through tourism department.

Reacting to a query, the IGP said that Home Guards would be requested to assist police during tourist rush in Kodagu during week ends and on holidays. He said that State Home Guards chief would be requested to extend co operation and they are already assisting police in few other places.

He also disclosed that the village groups assisting police in rural areas are assisting them in curbing crimes and blocking the entry of criminals. A group of about fifty civilians will assist police beat route and they shall inform police about any unlawful activities.

Gaonkar also said that a high level meeting was held with Kerala police to strengthen border security between Kodagu and Kerala. He said that criminal activities like smuggling and criminals crossing the border will all be curbed. He disclosed that police out post would be upgraded at Kodlipet and a traffic station would be started at Kushalnagar. Proposal to this effect is forwarded to government, he said. New buildings would be built for police stations at Somwarpet and Sunticoppa, he informed.

Gaonkar referred to the fake currency racket in the state and said that they are verifying the possibility of its transaction at Virajpet also. An accused found at Virajpet in the fake currency racket during 2001 was convicted by court for five years during 2008. The accused however has brought a stay from Supreme Court and they are verifying his involvement in the present racket also.

Superintendent of police, Manjunath Annigeri was also present.

RASTA ROKHO AT SIDDAPUR

Residents of Siddapur held a rasta rokho yesterday to protest against the bad condition of roads.

A dawn to dusk protest was called by the Small Growers association and others. The protest was called off after twelve noon as officials assured to take up repair work from today.

The protestors raised objection as junior engineers of PWD said that they will take up the work immediately. Protestors called it a blatant lie which they are hearing since four years. They demanded the arrival of the executive engineer. Tahasildar Satish Kumar arrived at the spot and convinced the protestors to discuss the issue in a meeting. The executive engineer Ravikumar also arrived at the spot and they held a meeting with the leaders of various organizations. Ravikumar assured that the tarring of 3.5 kilometers at Siddapur Gattadalla road would be taken up immediately and the remaining will be done at the next stage.

President of the small growers association, C.M.Kaverappa, former member of the Gram panchayath, Hamsa and others spoke on the occasion. President of the Siddapur Auto drivers association, T.T.Udayakumar, vehicle drivers association president Soodana Satish, CoC president M.S.Venktesh and others were present.