Dial ‘100’ for help, and the Punjab police would be at your doorstep in just 20 minutes. Available 24x7, the service would respond to all kinds of emergencies or ‘call-for-help’ from the citizens of Punjab.
launching Rapid Rural Police Response System, the Punjab Police claimed that it would ensure prompt and effective police response in villages to counter any crime or law and order situation in just 20 minutes.Taking another step towards modernisation of the State police force, the policing and investigation wings would be separated from the next month.
Though announced to take these measures, aimed at improving police functioning in the State which has, off and on, remained at the centre of controversy, couple of years back by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, it finally see the light of the day on Friday.
Sukhbir launched the Rapid Rural Police Response System, claimed to be nation’s first, by flagging off 400 new motor-cycles and 220 new Bolero four-wheeler.
Under this response system, any residents from rural area would only have to make a call on police helpline 100 for any kind of assistance from the police force. The new system would be available for 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to all kinds of emergencies or 'call-for-help' from the citizens of the State, said the spokesperson.
Sukhbir said: “This step shall go a long way in bringing the delivery of police services to the doorsteps of the common citizens of the State in addition to increasing the visibility of the police resulting in prevention of crime. The focus of the scheme is state’s rural population and this is a unique one-of-its-kind scheme in the country being specially focused on the rural population.”
Also announcing separation of policing and investigation wings, Sukhbir said that it would be implemented from the August 2016. “New recruitment of legal officers, forensic lab experts and investigation expert police officers would be made for the same,” he said.
Seeking security at the international border with Pakistan at par with the Jammu and Kashmir, Sukhbir said that Punjab has 553 kilometre long international border, which must be sealed on the pattern of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The security of international border is the prime responsibility of Border Security Force (BSF) which should be modernised with ultra-modern security equipment,” he said.
Patting the Punjab Police for breaking the supply chain of drugs from Pakistan to the other parts of the country by using the state as transit route, Sukhbir said that Punjab is fighting the nation’s war on drug issue.
Urging the media to present the reality on the drugs issue, Sukhbir said that the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have played the role of anti-Punjab forces by defaming all Punjabi youth as druggists to garner the political mileage only.
He has also invited the media to review the Police recruitment process, under which more than six lakh youth would undergo the drug and physical test to check the reality of drugs usage in the state. “It would be biggest sample size survey on drugs, which would certainly give befitted reply to the anti-Punjab elements on drugs,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister also announced that Punjab Police would recruit 8,000 more police personnel as the next Cabinet would clear the proposal in this regard.
Besides, a new Women Armed Special Escort Teams would be launched in 15 days to ensure the safety of women, especially the girls, as these teams would be deployed nearby educational institutions and working places.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora said that the State has been divided into 877 ‘beats’ based on ‘pattern’ and 'incidence' of crime. “This is an attempt to increase visibility and presence of police at the street level in the remotest corner of the State,” he said.
“These mobile police units shall not only provide timely response, but shall further reinforce sense of security among the rural population,” he said.
Arora said that the Police Control Rooms in all the districts have been modernized and the staff there has been trained in call receiving and handling of different situations arising in the districts.
In addition, 156 two-wheelers and 102 four-wheelers from the existing fleet strength of Punjab Police shall also be deployed for this purpose, he said adding that over 3,500 police personnel shall be deployed for this scheme.
DGP informed that the Government has also cleared the proposal for free annual medical to all serving police personal inGovernment hospitals.