Issuing an ultimatum to absconding criminals, district police have warned those facing arrest that their names would be struck off electoral rolls if they fail to surrender.
The threat of disenfranchisement is part of measures initiated by District Superintendent of Police N Manivannan to bring to book criminals who are evading arrest warrants issued by courts.
In a press release here today, he said that as many as 510 persons with criminal records were absconding in the district and, following the latest initiative, 38 criminals have been arrested.
He said that if the criminals against whom non-bailable arrest warrants had been issued failed to surrender, then steps would be taken for recommending that their names be deleted from the voters' list.
More stringent action would be taken against them, including impounding of passports, the DSP said, adding that all airports had been alerted about the absconding persons.
The SP also said that the 'Hello Police' wing of district police, which takes complaints over the phone, would be functioning round the clock.
