City Police to invoke PITNDPS Act to detain suspects; No need for FIR; Property to be seized
The unabated menace of drugs, both manufacturing and use, especially Methylene-dioxy-metha-mphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy in tablet form, along with ganja and other psychotropic substances in Mysuru city, has prompted the Police to invoke hard and harsh steps.
In a first-of-its-kind step, the City Police have begun invoking stringent provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 (PITNDPS), to detain drug peddlers without filing a First Information Report (FIR).
In an exclusive interview with Star of Mysore, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar said after the discovery of the scale of the drug menace in Mysuru, three proposals had been readied about how to handle the problem- one strategy was chosen. It has been sent to the office of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order (L&O), Bengaluru for approval.
“In this strategy, unlike a regular criminal case where an FIR is registered, action under the PITNDPS Act is a preventive measure to stop a person from committing further offences. It does not require a new, separate FIR for detention,” she explained.
“To add, Property seizure under this Act is a powerful legal mechanism used to target the financial infrastructure of drug traffickers,” the Commissioner added.
The Police Commissioner’s remarks came in response to ‘An Open Letter to the City Police Commissioner’ written by a reader and published in the Voice of the Reader column of Star of Mysore on Feb. 10.
Seema Latkar, while appreciating the public’s expression of that anxiety in the letter to the editor in Star of Mysore, outlined the concerted efforts being made to maintain law and order, control crime and further improve traffic management to ensure smoother movement of vehicles, especially in view of rising traffic density and the surge in weekend tourist inflow.
A tenure of challenges
“Since the day I took charge as the Police Commissioner on July 5, 2024, the days have been marked by turbulent situations, posing challenges in the form of the ‘Mysuru Chalo’ organised by a political party and clashes between party workers.
More challenging was Dasara 2025, as International Booker Prize-winning writer Banu Mushtaq was chosen to inaugurate the annual religious event,” recalled Seema Latkar.
“Firstly, I want to convey to the public that there is nothing to panic about,” she said, adding that she firmly believes in the Bhagavad Gita’s principle that when something good is bestowed upon a person, it must be given back through sacrifice and service rather than hoarded.
Drug consumers booked
She emphasised that making Mysuru a drug-free city remains one of her top priorities. “Until now, only drug peddlers were being booked under various legal provisions. We are now targeting consumers as well, because without demand from consumers, peddlers will not supply drugs,” she said.
“In 2026, we have already booked 91 cases of drug consumption within one-and-a-half months, while a total of 414 cases were registered during the previous year. In 2024, only one case had been booked before I assumed charge. Action against consumers is intended as a deterrent to curb repeated drug abuse,” she added.
“Parents and teachers have an important role to play in fighting this drug menace. Any children returning home late or showing behaviour that is not normal and changes suddenly should be questioned by their parents. It is also easy for teachers to spot odd behaviours, absenteeism and irregular studying patterns in classrooms,” she asserted.
Over 34,000 CCTV cameras
The number of CCTV cameras in the city has risen to 34,806, including 24,710 installed in 2025 alone and geo-tagged. These cameras have been installed by owners of commercial buildings, households and others at the initiation of the Police.
Whenever a crime or accident occurs, the Police rely on CCTV footage and geo-tagging to trace the exact location and locate the CCTV cameras around the place. This will aid the investigation, Latkar said.
On the traffic front, the Police have been specifically instructed to follow up on non-fatal accident cases. “Officers must track the treatment and condition of injured persons, as many accident victims succumb in hospitals due to a lack of timely treatment,” the Commissioner said.
Women good at multitasking
Responding to a question on the increasing number of women joining the Police and being given key responsibilities, Latkar said women possess innate qualities such as multitasking ability, commitment, dedication and conviction in action.
“Smart policing is the need of the hour, rather than working long hours without purpose. My day begins with age-wise analysis of cases, patterns and modus operandi,” she said.
“Wearing khaki gives a sense of pride. If even one individual gets inspired, especially when I address students in schools and colleges, it makes the effort worthwhile,” Seema Latkar added.
New DCP (Law & Order) soon
Following the transfer of previous DCP (Law and Order) of the city, on Dec. 31, 2025, the post has remained vacant. A seasoned Police officer is likely to be posted soon, said Latkar.
City Police Commissionerate limits set for expansion
With the city expanding rapidly, City Police Commissionerate limits are set to be extended by including parts of jurisdictions currently under rural Police stations on city’s periphery.
Seema Latkar said a proposal is being prepared to include areas under Jayapura, Yelwal and other Police limits presently under the District Police, headed by the Superintendent of Police. The locations have been identified based on accessibility and the ability to ensure quicker response and action.
Crack down on budding rowdies
To curb rowdy activities at an early stage, the Police have identified budding troublemakers and are keeping a close watch on their movements. Jurisdictional Police have a list of 148 budding rowdies and their activities are continuously monitored through neighbourhood intelligence gathering.
“Rowdy elements are being booked under Security cases, along with orders for their externment. So far, 56 Security cases have been registered, of which 36 are against rowdy elements. In comparison, 856 Security cases were booked in 2025 and 1,021 in 2024.
Inactive rowdy-sheeters
Of the more than 650 individuals listed as rowdy-sheeters, barely a few are considered active. The majority have taken up petty jobs, grown old or are physically fragile.
“As per the law, names of those who have stayed away from criminal activity for 10 years without an FIR, or who are unhealthy or bedridden, are being removed from the list in accordance with norms,” the Commissioner explained.
Individuals, not professionals
In heinous crimes such as murder, attempt to murder, and sexual assault, most cases involve individuals without prior criminal antecedents, with the accused and victims known to each other, rather than professional or habitual offenders.
Of the 18 murder cases reported in 2025, only one involved a rowdy-sheeter. One case was registered as murder for gain, two were due to revenge or enmity, two arose from sudden quarrels, two from disputes, three from family disputes, and four were linked to adultery or love affairs. A rape-cum-murder case involved a minor girl from Kalaburagi.
Police presence at tea shops helps curb youth substance use
As youths form a large section of drug abusers and tobacco consumers, the Police have been deputed to visit tea shops and other places where youngsters tend to gather at specific hours. Fearing daily Police visits, many youths eventually refrain from assembling at the same spots, Latkar added.
COTPA cases
To substantiate this, in just one-and-a-half months of the present year, 2,524 cases have been booked under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA), along with 4,313 petty cases.
During the previous year, 8,908 cases were booked under COTPA, compared to 4,278 cases in 2024. A total of 12,480 petty cases were registered in 2025 and 7,116 in 2024.
Stringent action is also being taken against drug peddlers, with 12 peddlers externed in 2025. In the present year, a proposal has already been made to extern another peddler.
This post was published on February 13, 2026 6:10 pm