Act as an institution of public faith, adopt social, community policing: Mehbooba to Police

CM chairs meeting of District SPs, range DIGs; reviews L&O, crime situations

Asks District SPs to use most stringent punishment against drug peddlers, visit distant areas periodically

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 20: Asking the Police to be more relaxed and humane in dealing with the situations, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today advised the force to act as an institution of public reassurance rather than a cause of fear among the masses.

Chairing a meeting with all the District Superintendents of Police and range DIGs of Kashmir province here, the Chief Minister asked them to adopt social and community policing to track down the crime in the State. She said a compassionate and responsive approach with the general population of law abiding citizens would automatically isolate the criminal elements in the society. This attitudinal change, she said, would make the crime eradication in the society much easy and also improve the image of the force in the eyes of the public.

The Chief Minister asked the District SPs to follow a social catharsis approach while dealing with youth which would persuade them not to venture on the path of violent waywardness, thereby utilizing these youth for positive and gainful purposes in the society. She also directed the District SPs to ensure that incidents of breach of SoPs by some jawans following a security operation in some isolated cases do not recur.

Asking the District SPs to enhance their public outreach in their respective areas, Mehbooba Mufti directed them to visit periodically the distant and far off areas of their districts to get a feel of the needs and difficulties of people. She also directed them to pace up the investigations in cases which are of public interest nature so that the faith in the institution is retained.

Flagging drug abuse as a major challenge for the Police, society and the Government, the Chief Minister directed the District SPs to go whole hog against the drug peddlers and those involved in the cultivation, transportation and trading of Bhang in the State. She directed them to use the most stringent provisions of law, including PSA, against them so that the younger generation is saved from falling prey to drug abuse.

Mehbooba Mufti also asked the Chief Secretary to work with Agriculture Department for introduction of some cash crops in the areas where Bhang is presently being cultivated. 

Expressing concern over the crimes against women, Mehbooba Mufti sought a detailed feedback about the functioning of women police stations set up last year in the province. She directed the District SPs to act tough against the people found involved in cases of rape, eve teasing, violence and other crimes against women and bring them to justice in a time bound manner.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the status of other crimes and cases where Special investigating teams were constituted and directed pursuing the probes with speed till the closure of the cases. She also asked the District SPs to make the Grievance Cells at their offices much more vibrant and enforce provisions of PSGA to improve public service within their domain.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the status of accommodation, mobility and other issues. She directed the District SPs to use their manpower effectively to check the traffic congestion, rash driving, smugglings of timber, building material and herbs in their respective areas.

Paying rich tributes to the officers and jawans of the force who lost their lives while on duty, Mehbooba Mufti asked the Home Department and PHQ to furnish at the earliest the details of pending such cases in whose favour compassionate help or assistance could be extended.

Earlier, Director General of Police, Dr. S. P. Vaid briefed the Chief Minister about the law & order, crime and drug abuse situations in the Valley. He also flagged the issue of space constraint for officers and constabulary in the cities and towns.

The Chief Minister was informed that so far 60 youth have been rescued by the Police from joining the anti social networks after persistent efforts.

Chief Secretary, B. B. Vyas; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, Munir Khan; Inspector General of Police, CID, Abdul Ghani Mir; range DIGs and all the District Superintendents of Police of Kashmir province were present in the meeting.