In view of the growing involvement of engineering students in various criminal activities in and around the State capital, the Commissionerate Police has decided to prepare a database of the students of all engineering colleges of the city.
As per the records, 30 engineering students have been arrested on the charges of murder, dacoity, loot, theft and gun peddling in the last six months.
The Commissionerate Police had received complaints against 78 students in 2014 and registered cases against 19 students while cases were registered against 19 students out of 55 complaints received in 2013, sources said.
The police, in the first phase, are preparing the database of the engineering students. According to Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi, the police are preparing the database of the engineering students staying outside their institute. Neither the institute and nor the police has any account of these students and their locations.
Through the database, police would be able to have separate interactions with these students.
The police would identify the locations of the students’ residences and keep a watch on the students and verify their criminal activities.
According to educationist Dr Pritish Acharya, these students, after getting technical knowhow from other students, utilise the technology in criminal activities like vehicle theft and looting cash from ATM counters. The craze for leading a luxurious life is a major reason for indulging in criminal activities. The institutes should take up the responsibility to prevent students from indulging in criminal activities.
It may be noted that the Commissionerate police had launched an awareness campaign among the students in 10 engineering colleges in the city earlier.