Udupi : The police superintendent registered as many as 38 complaints during the phone-in programme on Saturday.

Majority of the complaints were against matka and illegal liquor sale. The police head received six calls only on matka activities, while another five calls on illegal liquor sale. Most of the complaints were received from Kundapur, Karkala, Amasebailu, Hosangadi and Brahmavar.

The Police department had previously registered 72 cases of matka and also arrested 73 people. In addition, 33 people were arrested in eight cases of gambling, five were arrested in four illegal liquor sale. Cases of shrill horns in the vehicles, drunken driving and using mobile while riding or driving were also registered.

A complainant from Padubidri said that the matka is played near Padubidri police station and the officials and blind. The bridge adjoining Malpe-Padukere has become the abode for drunkards. There are also vehicles parked illegally in the areas disturbing the pedestrians, the complainant said.

SP Dr Sanjeev Patil told media persons that the increasing matka activities are posing a threat to the law and order mechanism in the district and working for matka has become a profitable business. As many as 221 accused were arrested for being involved in writing for matka. He said the inquiry is being held and the department is carefully looking into the activities of men who are out on bail following the arrest. If the illegal activity goes beyond controlling limits, he would approach the court and seek intervention to help the police to take stringent action.

Patil said that the department is working to make the Suraksha app active, so that the aggrieved public can register complaints. The Suraksha app was introduced by the former SP Annamalai.

The police head also received a complaint requesting for a change of police jeep drivers, who have been working in the same jurisdiction since many years. Patil assured to take measures.

There was a complaint on illegal parking at Karkala on the road stretching from the Venkatramana temple to the nursing home. A caller from Udupi complained about the irregular parking near Ashirvad theatre. There was a complaint on irregular parking at zebra crossing in Brahmavar.

Patil received calls on the family disputes too, for which the police head assured to look into the issue. A complainant from Manipal said that buses that are scheduled to ply during night hours are causing traffic congestion.