Crime has been curbed, claims SSP

When SSP Vijay Singh Meena took over charge of the district about three months ago, he appeared more concerned over the law and order situation than crime. He was of the opinion that taking to streets and resorting to roadblocks on small issues sends wrong signals in the society and also poses threat to the law and order situation. Having found himself in the midst of such a situation he had expressed concern over it and had also decided to tackle it. Now, after three months, he feels, there's marked change for the better on this front.

When SSP Vijay Singh Meena took over charge of the district about three months ago, he appeared more concerned over the law and order situation than crime. He was of the opinion that taking to streets and resorting to roadblocks on small issues sends wrong signals in the society and also poses threat to the law and order situation. Having found himself in the midst of such a situation he had expressed concern over it and had also decided to tackle it. Now, after three months, he feels, there's marked change for the better on this front.
In a tête-à-tête with BK Singh, he talked at length over the crime situation in the district and also measures taken by him to contain it.

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Do you feel any change on the crime front?
It is for the common people to decide as they are a better judge.

How about your comment ?
There is certainly betterment on the crime front. To some extent it has been contained. We have achieved more than 60 percent of the target.
Everybody knows that crime cannot be brought to zero level. But efforts can be made to check the rising tendency and that is what exactly we are doing.

Do you think gunning down criminals in encounters brings down the crime ?
Not exactly. But encounters certainly send a signal that the men in uniform are on the offensive and cannot be taken for granted. We track down criminals and give them a chance to surrender. If they surrender its OK.
But if they retaliate by firing they find themselves at the receiving end.

How many criminals have been gunned down in encounters since you took over?
Seven criminals.

What about Amit Pandey's killing in encounter as he had not committed a single murder?
His terror was more than a killer at large. In case of killing only two parties are affected but in the case of miscreants like Amit alias Babloo Pandey a large chunk of the society gets affected by their actions. Babloo, besides extorting money from people after issuing threats, had become a headache in the University area. He had been involved in a number of bomb explosions and had been terrorising students.

Don't you think criminals are undeterred by encounters?
No, it's not like that. Many a crime are not committed by professional criminals. In several such cases we come across first timers. As such they cannot be included in the list of professional criminals in a haste.

For instance, several students have been caught in chain snatching and auto-lifting incidents recently. They were all first timers.