Understanding Look Out Circulars (LOCs): A Key Tool in Preventing Escapes & Assisting Investigations

Recently, Anmol Bishnoi, brother of incarcerated gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has been subject to a Look Out Circular (LOC) in connection with the shooting incident outside actor Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai’s Bandra on April 14. But what exactly does this LOC entail? Let’s delve into its significance.

An LOC, issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, serves as a legal mechanism designed to prevent individuals from departing India’s borders. LOCs are issued at the request of investigating authorities and public sector banks to prevent people with criminal records or under investigation from escaping prosecution. These circulars are disseminated to immigration checkpoints at airports, seaports, and land borders, serving as alerts for authorities to detain the subject if encountered.

Effectiveness of LOC :-

1. Preventing Flight: One of the primary purposes of an LOC is to prevent individuals from leaving the country to evade arrest or legal proceedings. By alerting immigration authorities at airports, ports, and border checkpoints, an LOC effectively restricts the movement of the individual named in the circular.
2. Assisting Investigations: LOCs can aid in ongoing investigations by ensuring that individuals involved in criminal activities cannot flee the country, allowing law enforcement agencies more time to gather evidence and build a case against them.
3. Global Cooperation: In cases where an individual subject to an LOC attempt to leave the country, international cooperation may be sought through Interpol or other relevant channels to detain and extradite the individual back to the issuing country.