Bangalore top cop sees no divide

BANGALORE: Police commissioner Ajai Kumar Singh has  allayed fears that

the growing discontent among a section here -- subsequent to the alleged

lopsided development -- was abetting crime, and fostering hatred towards non-Kannadigas

and the neo-rich.

Bangalore has been witnessing an increasing IT industry-spurred display of

wealth, and experiencing the resultant hike in cost of living and a widening

divide between the rich and the poor, since the last ten years.

Singh replied in the negative when asked whether the violence and arson that

followed the death of Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar was a reflection of the

simmering anger against the skewed development and distribution of wealth in the

society.

“I don't see any divide between haves and have-nots. If I take the recent

riot, it is purely the work of antisocial elements. I know that a few IT

companies were damaged. But they were on the way of the procession and we cannot

say they were against IT companies. It is just mob mentality,” he said.

Earlier, three of the accused arrested in connection with the murder of a

policeman during the recent riots told this correspondent that they had joined

the mob attacking the policeman for no particular reason. These three are

currently lodged at the Cubbon Park police station, along with five other

accused in the same case.

Singh, however, added that there may be some kind of frustration as some

section of the society is left untouched by the richness that the IT industry

has brought in to the city.

“The cost of living is increasing, Cost of land is increasing and some

section is unable to afford such living. But I cannot say that this will lead to

any kind of crime,” he said.

In a veiled attack against the IT industry's constant demand for better

infrastructure, the police commissioner said that a certain section of the

people has become very vocal about certain problems.

“There is a certain section of people who complain that a road which leads

to a particular area is very bad. People who are staying in other areas like KG

Halli or Srirampuram feel that this section of the people should look at the

overall issues in Bangalore rather than talking only about certain areas,”

Singh pointed out.

While assuring that that there was no alarming increase in the crime rate in

the city in the last decade, Singh said, “According to the growth of the

population and psychology of the people, crime rate is under control.”

He added, “I can say that there is an increase in white-collar crime such

as cheating, cheque bounce cases, etc.”

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