Director-General of Police R.P. Thakur has emphasised that the department will stay focussed on employing technology to a greater extent in the days to come, and the ‘friendly policing’ policies will continue.
Mr. Thakur held a review meeting here with officers up to the rank of the DSP drawn from Chittoor and Tirupati Urban Police Districts.
Speaking to the media later, Mr. Thakur explained that the gaps observed in the process of policing due to manpower shortage would be overcome through technology.
“Technology will be increasingly used in policing and to reach out to the people. The Tirupati Urban Police is ahead in employing technology tools such as CCTV camera system. It will be made more effective with further fine-tuning,” he said.
On various issues pending for quite some time, Mr. Thakur declined to shower any promises and, instead, assured to study their feasibility and address them with due seriousness.
Tirupati, along with the temple in Tirumala, would be covered under a network of cameras for effective surveillance, he said. Referring to the ‘Srivari Brahmotsavams’ slated to be held in a couple of months, he indicated that surveillance would be enhanced with an improved CCTV system.
While admitting shortage of home guards in the TTD and paucity of field staff in the Traffic Department in Tirumala, he said the issues would be looked into at the earliest.
Mr. Thakur, who had worked for a long time in Rayalaseema, said the problems would be taken to the notice of the government and steps taken to solve them on priority basis.
Dwelling on “employee-friendly” measures, Mr. Thakur said the staff members would be treated with due respect, notwithstanding their rank.
Deputy Inspectors General of Police J. Prabhakar Rao (Anantapur range) and G. Srinivas (Kurnool range) and SPs Abhishek Mohanty (Tirupati Urban), S.V. Rajasekhar Babu (Chittoor), and Murali Krishna (Tirumala) were present.
Offers prayers
Special Correspondent in Tirumala writes: Mr. Thakur offered prayers at the temple of Lord Venkateswara here. The police chief, who was on his maiden visit to the town after assuming charge recently, was accompanied by his wife.
Soon after darshan, the priests showered ‘Vedasirvachanams’ and TTD JEO K.S. Srinivasa Raju presented him a memento and laddu prasadam.
Tirupati SP (Urban) Abhishek Mohanty was present.