On guard: The city police have decided to intensify patrolling in some areas. | Photo Credit: V_RAJU more-in The city police have identified about 15 black spots where obscene activities are being carried out and intensified patrolling at abandoned areas and public places. Police teams are constituted to prevent eve-teasing, prostitution and other illegal activities. “In most of the cases, police observed that minor girls are being trapped under the pretext of love. On some occasions, both the boy and the girl are students and minors and are meeting at abandoned places, which is a threat to them. We apprehended many couples too, who are involved in extramarital relationships on the city outskirts,” said a police officer. Sources of communication In most cases, smart phones, social media sites and online technologies are apparently the main sources of communication, according to the police. The police identified that illegal activities were going on at the Raghavaiah, Rajiv Gandhi and K.L. Rao Parks, Kondapalli Fort, Padmavathi Ghat, railway station surroundings, abandoned areas and buildings under construction . “We apprehended more than 50 pairs, including some love birds and couples, who are in illicit relationships, in just a few days. Students, private employees, daily wage labourers, vagabonds, married men and women were among them,” the police teams said. “The officials are shocked to observe that many schoolgirls and intermediate students are being trapped and forced into illegal activities. There were incidents of criminals misbehaving with the girls and attacking them at unsecured places and making good with their valuables,” a senior police official said. We offer counselling to those apprehended during the raids. Cases have been registered against them under Section 290 of IPC (Punishment for public nuisance) and the minors were handed over to their parents. Most of those arrested were from poor and disturbed families. “Apartments located on the city outskirts in some colonies have become hubs for prostitution. We request the landlords to stop leasing out the flats and houses for illegal activities. Action would also be taken against those who abet crime,” the police officer warned. Surveillance cameras The police are planning to install CCTVs at some identified places to check illegal activities. Patrolling has been intensified along the Krishna river, Kondapalli Hill, railway station and other places. We request the owners to post watchmen at the buildings under construction to prevent illegal activities and prostitution, the officer said.

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