ALLAHABAD: For the past three days, a policeman is moving from one village in Pratapgarh’s crime infested belt to another, making an announcement on hand-held loud speaker. He says, “Suno, suno, suno…
agar koi katta, Mungeri pistol, avaidh aslahe (illegal weapons) aur chori ki gaadi ke sath pakda gaya, toh police uske saare sahyogion ko bhi iss apraadh mein shamil maante hue sabhi ke kilaf muqadma darj karegi aur un sabko jail bhej diya jayega. Isliye aisa koi saamaan aapke ghar mein hai to police ko batayein(If any illegal weapons, Munger-made pistol, stolen automobiles, and other articles are seized from anyone, then police will consider all
associates as involved in the crime, book them for criminal charges and they all will be sent to jail. So, if any such thing is in any house inform police). He goes on to exhort locals to inform police in case they know about any criminal activity. “Come forward and support police in catching criminals. The name and address of informer would be kept secret,” he adds.
The policemen have been moving through Raniganj, Kotwali, Kodhaur, Aspur Devsarai, Baghrai, Nawabganj , Patti, and Jethwara in crime infested belt of Pratapgarh district and covers at least five villages daily. When questioned, SP (City) Pratapgarh, Purnendu Singh told TOI, “In the past 72 hours, at least four FIRs have been lodged with Kotwali, Nawabganj and
Raniganj police stations and seven persons were sent behind bars.” Besides the announcements in villages, police have also launched a drive to catch outlaws involved in auto thefts and possessing illegal weapons, he added.
Singh claimed that the exercise was launched in identified specific pockets where incidents of heinous crimes including murder had been frequent. In most incidents, illegal weapons and stolen bikes had been used.
Drive to catch outlaws
