Bengaluru: Home Minster R. Ramalinga Reddy yesterday directed the Police to strengthen local intelligence to keep a check on anti-social activities in their respective jurisdictions. Addressing the City Police for the first time after assuming charge as Home Minister, Reddy asked them to identify troublemakers, rowdy elements and extortionists.

Pointing out that he used to get many complaints from hawkers and roadside vendors about anti-social elements extorting ‘hafta,’ from them in and around city market, Reddy said he had brought it to the notice of the Police. Although the menace was contained for some time, it is back and continues unabated, he said.

Making it very clear that the buck stops with the Police, the Home Minster said that complete co-operation would be given to those personnel who work honestly.

Asking the Police to put an end to extortion, Reddy instructed the  Police to keep constant tabs on anti-social elements, increase security cover in I-T corridors and around PG accommodations, check traffic violations and ensure alcohol vendors operate within permissible time limits.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar and other Police officers were present.

Kempaiah kept out of meeting

Ramalinga Reddy held his first meeting with Bengaluru Police by keeping out former IPS Officer and Advisor to the Home Minister, Kempaiah.

Although there was severe opposition to the interference of Kempaiah in Police functioning, Reddy’s predecessors K.J. George and Dr. Parameshwara did not make any efforts  to keep Kempaiah out of key Police meetings.

But now, Ramalinga Reddy soon after becoming the  third Home Minister in the Siddharamaiah Government, has begun to assert his authority over the Police Department, by keeping Kempaiah out of Saturday’s meeting, according to sources.