'Madadgar 15' to be strengthened: CM approves plan to curb street crimes

In order to control street crimes, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved a plan to strengthen 'Madadgar 15' by enhancing its force and equipping them with vehicles, latest gadgets such as tablets and forensic labs so that prompt action could be ensured.

The chief minister also decided to conduct summary trail of the street criminals for which he constituted a committee under Adviser Law Murtaza Wahab and Sindh IG Police Dr Kaleem Imam to prepare and submit their recommendations to cabinet. The chief minister took this decision on Tuesday while presiding over a meeting to evolve a strategy to control street crimes in the city.

The meeting was attended by Adviser to CM Murtaza Wahab, Home Secretary Kazi Kabir, IG Police Dr Kaleem Imam, Adl IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, Adl IG CTD Kamran Fazal, Adl IG Special Branch Imran Yakoob, DIG South Sharjeel Kharal, DIG East Amir Farooqi, DIG West Amin Yousif Zai and other concerned officers.

Upgrade of Madadgar 15: The chief minister on recommendations of the IGP, approved provision of 200 Tablets for vehicles to be used by Madagar 15. He approved Rs 6 million for the purpose.

Madadgar 15 would have a dedicated force of 2900 policemen and 200 mobiles. They would be equipped with geolocation gadgets. The SSU has been provided 30 mobiles and they would also be deployed with necessary force. The chief minister directed the IGP to launch special training of Madadgar 15 personnel by SSU.

Shah approved vehicles (APV - Suzuki) required for forensic van for each Police Station and establishment of Drug Rehabilitation Centers (DRC) at Malir and korangi.

On the cognizing of Additional IG Karachi, the chief minister approved Rs96 million for repairing Karachi police fleet and construction of police station buildings. At present, only 20 police stations are functioning in proper buildings.

The chief minister, on the recommendation of the Karachi police, also approved the creation of Security and Emergency Response Division (SERD). It was also decided to further strengthen SSU, and Crowd Management Unit (CMU). These units would have professionally sound manpower/force with necessary vehicles.

Street Crimes: Adl IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi presented a detailed briefing to the chief minister on the state of street crimes and efforts of Karachi police to curb the incidents.

He told that the drug addicts were involved in street crime at large. The other reasons of the street crime were as a source of living and purchasing of drug. The meeting pointed out that there was no proper rehabilitation mechanism for drug addicts.

It was also pointed out that right from registration of the case to its final judgment in the court, lengthy criminal procedures were inconvenient. "This discourages victim to get the case registered, thus accused get advantage," the chief minister said and it was endorsed by the Adl IG Karachi saying that out of 2468 complainants approached by police, [Police Victim Support Unit] only 15 agreed to get their cases registered.

At this the chief minister directed his law adviser Murtaza Wahab to prepare recommendations to simplify the criminal procedure. It was also pointed out that Bail Policy was quite liberal, therefore criminals keep repeating crimes. Illegal Immigrants such as Afghans, Burmese and Bengalis were also termed as drivers of street crime. The Adl IG Police told the chief minister that police have started searching hideouts of criminals in 162 slum areas of city.

The chief minister said there was a dire need to expedite Safe City Project, apart from strengthening investigation / prosecution and also ordered establishment of forensic lab.