Gang Wars come under Madras HC scanner; How many Gangsters in India, asks Court

A feud between two gang leaders, which left two (including a police officer) dead, has prompted the Madras High Court to take note of the prevalence of criminal gangs in Tamil Nadu and across the country..The issue came to fore when one of the alleged gang members, who was detained under Tamil Nadu’s Goondas Act, 2004, approached the Court for relief..Earlier this month, the Bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and S Baskaran broadened the scope of this case, observing that,.“The case on hand would demonstrate as to how the rowdy gangs/paid killers are active in Tamil Nadu, jeopardizing law and order and creating panic in the minds of the common man in Tamil Nadu as well as in the other parts of out Country. .The clash between two rowdy gangs have resulted in many killings and also affecting the tranquility of the State. Inspite of many efforts, the rowdy gangs, paid killers, organized criminal gangs, history sheeters, gangsters are more active and they are indulging in many crimes including killings for money, robbery, dacoity, theft and other heinous offences. Only if these gangs and paid killers are brought under control, there will not be any law and order problem.“.The Court proceeded to implead the Union Ministry for Home Affairs suo motu, after noting that the criminal activity carried out by such gangsters often cross State borders..“It is also reported in media many times about the henious offences including murders, dacoity, robbery committed by inter-state gangs. Though law and order is a State subject, when offenders are crossing the States to commit offences, the Central Government is duty bound to control those inter-state criminal gangs/paid killers.“.Whereas the matter was initially posted for the coming Friday, the Bench passed another order on Wednesday directing the authorities to furnish details regarding the prevalence of gangsters in Tamil Nadu and in India, the extent of their recorded criminal activity and conviction rates in gang-related cases..The Courts has also queried whether any nexus exists between gangsters, policemen, politicians and real estate players. Some of the questions posed by the Court were:.“Is it a fact that real estate sharks are engaging rowdy gangs/paid killers to grab/encroach the properties of innocent people?.Is it a fact that many political parties appoint persons with muscle power/criminal background as office bearers at every level?.Whether these rowdy gangs/paid killers have got blessings of some of the police officials?”.The questionnaire also touches upon the allure of gang affiliations for juveniles, and queries whether there have been efforts to prevent the induction of young persons into criminal gangs..Another notable query, reminiscent of the High Court’s drive against the criminalisation of the legal community last year, is whether such gangsters are known to purchase law degrees in the state..Additionally, the Bench has also asked whether it would be possible to create special wings of trained officers to tackle organised crime. Further, the Court has also wondered whether it would be feasible to introduce a law against organised crime, akin to those introduced in Maharashtra and Karnataka, at the State and National levels..The full list of 25 questions posed by the Court runs as follows:.How many rowdy gangs/paid killers (Mercenaries) are active in Chennai as well as throughout Tamil Nadu and in India?How many murders have been committed by the rowdy gangs/paid killers in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and throughout India for the past 10 years? (year wise details have to be given)What are all other heinous crimes committed by the rowdy gangs and paid killers in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and throughout India for the past 10 years? (year wise details have to be given)How many cases have been registered against rowdy gangs/paid killers for the past 10 years in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and throughout the nation? (year wise details have to be given)Who are all engaging rowdy gangs/paid killers?Is it a fact that real estate sharks are engaging rowdy gangs/paid killers to grab/encroach the properties of innocent people?What is the rate of conviction in the cases involving rowdy gangs and paid killers?Whether in the cases involving rowdy gangs, paid killers etc., the witnesses are made hostile either by winning over the witnesses or be coercion or by threat?Is it a fact that fake surrenders are made after committing heinous crimes by the criminals/paid killers and the real accused remains outside?Is it a fact that many political parties appoint persons with muscle power/criminal background as office bearers at every level?Which are all the political parties which are having criminals/persons with criminal background as office bearers?Is it a fact that many criminals/rowdies float political parties so that they could escape from police or clutches of law?Is it a fact that rowdies/history sheeters/paid killers/gangsters are purchasing law degrees from other State law colleges to shield their criminal acts and to avoid police actions?Whether these rowdy gangs/paid killers have got blessings of some of the police officials?Whether Centralised criminals data base has been created regarding gangsters/rowdies/paid killers in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and throughout India?Is there any grade in classifying and dividing rowdy gangs/paid killers/gangsters?Whether these rowdy gangs/paid killers get any support from religious groups/organizations, extremist groups, communal groups or political parties?Why the juveniles are getting attracted to gangsters/rowdy groups/paid killers?Is there any social, economical, religious, ideological or communal background for these juveniles or youngsters getting into these gangs?Whether any effective and proper steps have been taken to reform the juveniles, who are involved in the crimes along with gangsters, rowdies and paid killers?What are all the steps taken by the State Government to prevent the youngsters from joining in these gangs as many juveniles/minors themselves are forming part of these gangs?Why not the State Government form a special wing in police headed by an officer in the rank of DGP to contain organized criminals/paid killers/history sheeters/gangsters and recruit officials and give them special training to deal with them and to investigate those cases effectively?Why not the State Government come out with a new Act, like “Maharashtra Control of Organized Crimes Act, 1999” (MCOCA) or similar Act as passed by Karnataka viz., “The Karnataka Control of Organized Crimes Act, 2000 (KCOCA)”, which would enable the police to deal with and control the Organized Criminals/paid killers effectively?How many interstate rowdy gangs, gangsters, paid killers are active in India?Why not the Union Government pass a legislation like MCOCA or KCOCA to control inter state gangsters/criminals/paid killers?.The Government authorities have been directed to respond to the same by the end of this month.