Udupi district, has no naxals, says SP Nimbargi

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Feb 10, 2018: Udupi Superintendent of Police Laxman Nimbargi on Feb 9, Friday reiterated that there is no naxal activity in Udupi district.

He was speaking to media after a hour-long phone-in programme held at the District Police Office here.

SP Nimbargi said that already the police had been holding regular meetings with people in areas that were considered naxal-affected in the district. There were four camps of the Anti Naxal Force in Jeddinagadde, Shankarnaryana, Hebri and Karkala rural police station limits in the district and there was also the Anti Naxal Squad of the police.

Both of these forces were keeping a tight vigil in the respective areas. Regular combing was being held in the once-affected areas. “There was no movement of naxals in the district as of now,” he said.

Since the Assembly elections were approaching, a list of history-sheeters and mischief-makers was being prepared. As many as 3,850 persons had arms with them in the district. The process of verifying their licences was on, he said.

A total of 21 calls were received during the phone-in programme dealing with a variety of issues. However, most of the calls were on traffic problems and gambling.

SP Nimbargi said that about 6,200 cases under the Motor Vehicle Act had been registered in the district since January 1. These included 2,471 cases for not wearing helmets, 260 cases for using vacuum and shrill horns, 99 cases against persons speaking on mobile phones while driving, 19 cases of drunken driving, 254 cases of overspeeding and 3,022 other traffic-related cases.

As many as 82 cases against matka were registered and 83 persons had been arrested, while 131 persons were arrested for other gambling activities in the district. As many as 254 cases had been booked under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and 18 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, he said. The police would be registering security cases against those involved in matka cases for the last three years. This would act as a deterrent and keep them away from getting involved in matka again, SP Nimbargi opined.