BELAGAVI, 21 June

The Belagavi Police Commissionerate launched an ‘anti-stabbing squad,’ the first in the State. The squad was launched to avoid attacks in public places within the Commissionerate limits.

Officers in the squad are permitted to search people in public places while in civil clothes. The squad, headed by DCP Rohan Jagadish, has two circle inspectors among other staff.

Belagavi Police Commissioner Bhushan Borase told press on Saturday that the squad is authorised to check people and their bags who they find suspicious.

“People need not to be scared as it was for their safety. Those who were found carrying weapons mainly the knives, longs, rods etc will be categorised as ‘Rowdy Sheeters’ and expelled from the Commissionerate limits,” he said.

 “Youngsters are increasing involved in crimes in crimes. People are using swords to cut cakes during celebration nowadays. Hence, the police started the squad,” Commissioner Borase said, adding that the squad has been instructed not to trouble people whom they check,  not file false cases and threat them.

The squad began work on Saturday checked many mainly the college student saying advising them not to be scared as it was the routine checkup.

The squad was necessitated after a PUC student was stabbed by two minors in a Belagavi city bus.

A quarrel broke out over a window seat on the bus, following which a minor called his friend, also underaged, and the pair stabbed the victim in the stomach.