Published On : Sat, Aug 25th, 2018

Nagpur police to invoke MPDA against 15 goons

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Nagpur: Nagpur City Police have identified 15 goons and are readying to hit them with stringent Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers and Drug Offenders Act (MPDA) in a bid to curb their anti-social activities. Previously, city police had taken action against these goons but now cops are preparing to charge them under stringent MPDA as they did not desist from their illegal activities. Under, MPDA these goons can be lodged in any jail throughout the State for a period of one year.

On Monday, City Police detained Nishant alias Macchi Dnyaneshwar Gaur (30), a resident of Dadrapul, in jurisdiction of Tehsil police station under MPDA. He was previously detained at Nasik Central Jail for a year. This is the ninth MPDA case by City Police this year. Last year, 36 goons were detained under the MPDA and 30 in year 2016.

Commissioner of Police Dr. Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay said that MPDA Wing of Crime Branch has zeroed in on 30 criminals and found 15 are fit for the action. These goons are accused in body offences reported during last two years. They are continuing with their criminal activities despite previous preventive action against them. The police are firm to act against dangerous criminals who are a threat to the society and the crackdown would continue to make Nagpur a more secure place, he said. The action was initiated after observing that habitual criminals are getting involved in crime without fear of law. Out of 15 criminals, 13 are in the age group of 19 to 25 years. They all have criminal history since their teenage and have become more hardened over the years.

MPDA is one of the weapons with police that can be used against the criminals who do not mend their ways despite preventive action, including externment. If someone has history of serious crimes, and is involved in two or more criminal activities in a span of six months despite being booked under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act (CrPC) then police can invoke MPDA against such goons. After booking them under the MPDA, police arrest the criminals and send them to jail where they remain incarnated for a period of one year.

Later, police has to appear before the Advisory Board of High Court where they have to prove necessity of applying MPDA against the accused person(s). After being detained under the MPDA, the accused has to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a year in jails. The one year gap is sufficient to break the network of the criminal on basis of which he carries out illegal activities.