Cops to hold lok durbar to deal with money lenders

Vadodara: Have you taken a loan from a private lender on a high interest rate and are being harassed for the recovery? You can walk into any police station and register a complaint against such extortionist, and the cops will take an immediate action. Concerned over the extortion racket carried out by private money lenders, the city police has decided to hold lok durbars across the city soon.
“People often prefer to take loans from private money lenders on very high interest rates per month. However, when they fail to repay, such money lenders threaten or pressurize them to shell out the money. They use all kinds of tactics to harass the borrowers including sending goons for the recovery,” said city police commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut.
“We have been receiving complaints about such extortions from private money lenders over the last few months. Every month, we get at least 20 to 25 such complaints from citizens. Hence, we have decided to act against such extortionists. The lok durbar will try to address issues faced by people who have taken loans and are facing pressure from the money lenders,” Gahlaut told TOI.
On Thursday, the first such lok durbar will be held in Warasia police station premises. The police department will address complaints from residents living in the jurisdiction of Bapod, Warasia, Karelibaug, Harni and Sama police stations in the Zone IV. Six police inspectors and a team of PSIs, sleuths from prevention of crime branch (PCB), detection of crime branch (DCB) and special operations group (SOG) will be present in the lok durbar.
The applicant will have to give details of his case to the police which will decide on the further course of action immediately. “If we find the need to inquire into the matter, we will do it and then act. The idea is to address the complainant’s issue within a week. People should approach us without any fear. There will be no injustice against anyone. We will cover the other areas of the city in the coming weeks,” Gahlaut said.