Maintain best law & order in HP: CM to police

Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said Himachal Pradesh was known for peace, tranquility and harmony but the recent Kasauli incident was a blot on functioning of State police.

A woman official was killed and another official later died after a hotel owner fired at them in the wake of Supreme Court ordered demolition drive in the hill station earlier this month.

Presiding over a review meeting of Home Department here,  Thakur directed the state police to work with missionary zeal and commitment to ensure best law and order situation in the State.

Thakur said said that efforts should be made to ensure that incidents like those at Kasauli do not occur in the future. He said the state police should launch special awareness campaign regarding drug abuse, violations of Motor Vehicle Act and safety of women etc.

The chief minister said that the police should come heavily on drunken driving and cancellation of licenses of the defaulters, adding that black spots should be identified and got rectified at the earliest. He said that the police should launch special drive for wearing helmets by two wheelers. He said that effective working of women police stations should be ensured and opportunity of counseling for matrimonial disputes should be provided in a best possible way.

He said police force should serve the community in a non partisan, ethical and lawful manner only then they can win over the confidence of the masses at large.

Directing the police officers to launch awareness campaign in the schools and colleges about ill effects of drugs, he said that cooperation of local bodies, panchayats, mahila mandals and NGOs should be sought in this respect to make this campaign a success. 

He said that strict vigil should also be maintained on curbing illegal mining.

Thakur said that 'Gudiya Helpline' and  'Shakti App' must be monitored professionally so that crime against women could be checked.

Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry assured the Chief Minister that police department would work with dedication to restore its credibility amongst the masses. Director General of Police S.R. Mardi said that the state police would come up with a roadmap regarding making the police force more efficient within 15 days. He said that the department would also come up with new plans and initiatives for combating crimes in an effective manner.