Circular on gangs originated from Punjab: Top cop

A circular sent to parents warning them of presence of criminal gangs in a private school here based on what it claimed as "police alert," has set-off panic signals but police denied issuing any such missive.
The DAV Girls Senior Secondary School here sent a circular to parents on September 2 warning them of criminal gangs involved in prostitution, trafficking, abduction and rape, and asked the parents to be cautious based on "police alert."
The police, however, denied issuing any such missive to any school and sections of the parent community were both alarmed and confused about the "existence" of such gangs.

"We never sent any circular to any school. The circular had actually been issued by a school in Ambala in Punjab and only it had found its way to Chennai," Deputy Police Commissioner, V Balakrishnan told PTI.
"The circular was issued in good faith considering the safety of our children. Why (media) you are blowing it out of proportion," asked an angry parent.
Requesting anonymity, he wondered if a police alert was "needed" for issuing a circular like the one in question.

"Don't you see incidence of rape, abduction, trafficking,? what is the problem even if the school had issued a circular on its own in the absence of a police alert," he wanted to know.

Stating that school authorities were "hurt" that some parents had spoken to the media as if the school had done "something wrong," the parent added that "no one need to be alarmed or confused," as the circular was a "reflection of reality" whether it was supported by police alert or not.
Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts, neither the school correspondent Jayadev nor principal KC Usha came forward to give their views on the circular, its effect on parents or the basis on which it was issued and the need for it.