Cops to crack the whip on tenants

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, May 29

After the involvement of two youths in a murder case who were staying as a tenant in Ekta Vihar Colony, Baltana, the police have chalked out a plan to crack the whip on such tenants.

The police have launched a drive to crosscheck antecedents of tenants to prevent them from engaging in disruptive activities while staying in rented premises.

The city police are going to book landlords under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) who had given their houses and PG accommodations on rent to people without police verification. The drive would help trace anti-social elements who might seek hideouts in residential areas, a police official said.

Though the city police have pulled up their socks, city residents are yet to take a call on the issue as a majority of them have not yet got police verification done for tenants in Zirakpur.

According to police sources, no owner of any house or property could rent out any accommodation to any person until and unless he had furnished the particulars of the said tenant to the police station concerned.

The sources said any person who intends to take accommodation on rent and property dealers who arrange accommodation for tenants are also obliged to furnish the particulars of the tenant to the nearby police station.

“Though several incidents of tenants’ involvement in criminal activities have been reported, there is no provision for registration of landlords and tenants. We welcome the initiative as this will help curb crime and put a brake on the stay of illegal immigrants,” said Ajay Kumar, a resident of Baltana.

“People should understand that police verification of tenants is must for their own safety. A majority of the landlords have not registered their PGs and tenants with police stations as they will have to pay charges at commercial rates. It is a welcome step by the police,” said Bharti Singh, a housewife.

Tarlochan Singh, SHO, Zirakpur police station, said: “Police verification of tenants is a simple process. The landlord simply needs to fill in the details of the tenants in the police verification form. This has to be submitted, along with the tenant’s photograph and copies of documents such as PAN card or lease agreement at the local police station. This reduces the risk of having tenants with a criminal background”.

He said they would launch drives on a regular basis to identify tenants who have not reported for verification. Those who contravene this process would be liable to face legal action in accordance with the provision of Section 188, IPC.