Nagpur: Sharp rise in ‘neighbourhood brawls’ post 4pm restriction

NAGPUR: The city police control room is flooded with calls reporting quarrels or brawls in neighbourhoods, especially slums, after the 4pm restriction. Prank calls too have increased manifold.
While city police chief Amitesh Kumar sounded concerned, psychiatrist, Dr Rajesh Rathi, termed it as a ‘lockdown effect’.
Kumar has already had a brainstorming session with his senior officers over reasons behind the spurt in violence, means to curb it and create a fear of law in the society. “We are pondering over the reasons whether it’s the ample free time that citizens are getting after the 4pm restrictions leading to their early return from work or frustration over restrictions or some other reasons,” said Kumar.
The city has also witnessed a spate of violent crimes like murders in the evening, including the latest one at Pandhrabodhi a couple of days ago. On Thursday, too, there was an incident of stabbing in Sadar.
As the CP is trying to meet the tricky challenge by deploying some measures like ensuring DCP level officers monitor calls regarding fights coming to the control room between 6pm and 11pm, Dr Rathi suggested that the men in khaki should immediately identify ‘high risk zones’ or ‘violence-prone localities’ to start ‘a good hope’ campaign focusing on mental health issues of citizens plagued by lockdown worries and anxieties, including financial stress.
Kumar said multiple calls of fighting incessantly coming to the control room is leaving officers clueless as to how to tackle the problems at different localities simultaneously. “We are ensuring cross-jurisdiction policing by diversion of forces from different police stations to attend spots from where the calls had come. Apart from a prompt response, we also don’t want our cops to get outnumbered and aggravate the situation,” said the CP, adding, “co-ordination of diversion of forces is done by the DCPs.”
Kumar said most of the fights or quarrels are due to trivial reasons. “We are taking action against criminals but this increased violence is leaving us concerned,” he said.
Dr Rathi said his association of experts is ready to render help through a helpline so that people can overcome stress, anxiety and depression.