Dharwad residents become crime fighters

Hubballi: Residents in the twin cities are worried by the increasing number of burglaries, chain snatching, house thefts and other crimes. Many are still in shock after a senior citizen was killed and his house looted. However, a group of residents of Malamaddi in Dharwad have come forward to join hands with police to prevent such crimes. Professionals including government employees, businessmen and retired persons have volunteered to form a public-police beat system.
After an orientation programme by police, 10 citizens started night beat patrolling along with two police constables on Sunday night.

Sharing his experience with TOI, Vinayak Joshi, a tutor, said that it was a new learning to go with police. “We came to know that night beat involves many things like checking, suspecting and preventing untoward incidents. We also realized the hurdles faced by police in night patrolling. We found that our police brethren are well skilled in identifying miscreants. When we met a person, he said he was a construction worker. Immediately the constables accompanying us checked his hands and found them to be hard. Then constables told us that he was truly a construction worker,” he added.

Joshi said, “We started patrolling at 10.45pm and concluded by 1.45am on Monday. Many residents came to us and extended their support and expressed their willingness to join us in the coming days. However, we request police to allow us to hold a cane, whistle and other required material for our own protection. It would be better if they provide one constable for every 10 citizens on patrol. We have also requested police to issue identity cards to interested citizens.”

Rohit Deshpande, a contractor said some miscreants had grabbed his wife’s purse last year. “It’s true that no government can provide a policeman to each individual. If we join hands with police, then criminals won’t venture in to our area or quite crime altogether. We are mulling to deploy five citizens in each shift. First shift will be from 11pm to 1am and another shift is from 1am to 5am. We will ensure this work should not become a burden for any citizen. We estimate each person will get this assignment once a week or 10 days. If more citizens come forward, the frequency will decrease,” he added.

Social activist Kiran Hiremath, who coordinated to form the public-police beat, said this is the first public beat in recent years in the twin cities. “Many more residents of different areas are coming forward to join this initiative,” he added.

Orientation meet held

In an orientation meeting held on Sunday evening, police inspector Murugesh Channannavar demonstrated how to conduct the night beat. Vidyagiri PSI Shivanand Bannikoppa, Malamaddi Residents Association president R B Guttal, corporator Sanjay Kapatkar and others were present.