VIJAYAWADA, Dec 18: They want to reform themselves and enter the mainstream. But they are discouraged from leaving the world of crime by fear of the police and encouragement from unscrupulous elements in khaki. If arduous efforts made by various social service bodies and the state government failed to get rid of the gangs of Stuartpuram in Guntur district, it is because of the ``dubious'' role being played by lower-rung policemen.

However, Guntur district police superintendent Anjani Kumar refutes the allegation. ``I want to leave this dark profession. But once I surrender the police may foist cases upon me,'' fears Chukka Paul, an inter-state robbers-gang leader wanted in a number of theft and robbery cases. Earlier, Paul had surrendered to the police and languished in a lock-up ``illegally'' for about six months. He was released without being produced in a court, a social worker points out.

Other gangsters also want to surrender provided the state government sets up a special court to deal with Stuartpuram criminals. But the fear of fake cases scares them. A few years ago, a gang leader surrendered to the police and he was allegedly charge-sheeted in cases in which he was not involved.

``Let the police first announce the number of cases pending against each gangster in Stuartpuram. If the cases in which we are implicated are genuine, we will surrender and undergo punishment for the crimes,'' gang members argue.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.