Kolkata: Counselling session focuses on cops’ mental health

KOLKATA: The Kolkata Police arranged ‘Sainik Sammelan’ at the Silpara community hall on Monday. The event was held less than two weeks after the Park Circus shooting where a constable, Chodup Lepcha, from fifth battalion had killed a woman and injured two others before shooting himself dead.
During the one-hour programme a stress management instructor, who had worked with the New York Police Department (NYPD), held a special session for the cops attached with Thakurpukur, James Long and Diamond Harbour traffic guards. Over 100 civic volunteers, home guards, constables, sergeants and other senior officers participated in the event.
The top brass at Lalbazar said all units have been encouraged to carry out programmes that can build the confidence of the force, especially those on road carrying weapons or managing traffic. “It is not possible to assess the mental state of a junior as only a handful of us have the expertise. Such initiatives are helpful,” said an officer.
At the programme, instructor Mala Chowdhury, who had interacted with the family members of the deceased in the Park Circus shooting earlier, spoke at length on the importance of the police job. She insisted on cops spending quality family time.
“Our cops said all of them stay in Kolkata and they were motivated for work,” said an ACP who attended the programme. “The Park Circus incident taught us a lesson. We will need to rethink mental health in the long term. The effort to ask senior officers to speak to their juniors is a part of that exercise,” said an officer.