In view of rising crime, city police has decided to set up ‘Mohalla Committees’ locality-wise across the steel city. The move is to provide the police nail anti-social and criminal elements active in the city.
Senior superintendent of police Anoop Birthray said that the Mohalla Committee will comprise 10 to 15 persons.
"As per our plans, such committees will be formed by the OCs of various police stations so that the members of the committees will be directly in touch with the local police. The committee members will also in contact with the Mobile Tigers for an instant action in the event of any criminal incident," Birthray pointed out.
The senior SP said that there will be four or five Mohalla Committees in each of the police station areas, depending on the jurisdiction of a police station.
As per the plans the police stations in the district will hold meetings every month with the members of the citizen committees formed in their jurisdictions to seek suggestions from them and also suggest opinions for curbing neighbourhood crimes.
The SSP went on to add that ‘mohalla committee’ or the citizen-police amity is soon going to be implemented soon. These committees will be an interface between the citizens and the police to look into areas like settling traffic congestion and extortion problems too.
The SSP went on to add that involving the community and educating them may effectively address the crime. The concept of community policing has also been introduced in many states. In this initiative, community support is sought to help police in crime prevention, giving information about any anti-social or criminal activity in the area and helping police in arrest of proclaimed offenders.
“We will also increase the night vigil and patrolling. Special check points would be installed during late hours in various sectors,” said Birthray.
Notably, of late there has been a spurt in the crime of loot, snatching, eve-teasing and drunk-driving at the steel city. The people, especially the women and girls are not safe as the criminals and other miscreants have a free run committing loot and snatching with impunity.
Birthray said he has instructed the OCs that Mohalla Committees are set up within a month time from today. He said he has also instructed the officers-in-charge that the functionaries of these committees will try to install CCTV cameras in their respective areas by motivating the shop-keepers or owners of any business establishments for installation of the surveillance cameras.
"As per the plans the members of each Mohalla Committee can be a teacher, businessman and even a student. At times, the members will also convene meetings of the residents for briefing about the formation of Mohalla Committee which will act as a media between the police and the local residents," said the senior police officers.