Newly-appointed Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) MA Ganapathy held a video conference with district police heads on Monday and directed them to deploy police forces in co-ordination with the district administration and
Forest Department to douse the still raging forest fire.
While interacting with Range police officers, district police officers, in-charges of PAC, IRB and SDRF, for the first time through video conference since he assumed charge on Saturday, Ganapathy said that he had directed the officers to ensure best kind of policing for the common men in their jurisdictional limits.
He reached PHQ around 10 am and inspected all the offices and gave the department officials necessary instructions. He directed the police personnel at PHQ to reach the office punctually as per the schedule and solve the cases they are dealing with right before the stipulated time.
However, the police officers and other staffers at PHQ had reached the headquarters around 9.45 am. “This is a positive departure from the usual practice,” said a senior cop.
During video conferencing, Ganapathy stressed on the increased police role in controlling forest fire and on the optimum use of the resources lying at their disposal to douse the fire in sync with other departments concerned. He said stringent action would follow if any person is caught lighting fire in the forest areas.
He further said that public grievances must be redressed on time. For this, the officials need to fix time when they would meet the aggrieved people. Problems raised by public should be solved judiciously, he said, adding that the police officers must be polite while hearing the people’s grievanes. “We must stop any kind of miscommunication between police and the people,” he added.
Stressing on glitch- free Char Dham Yatra, he directed the police officers to complete all the works related to it in no time. The importance of security for the pilgrims is paramount, he said, adding that additional police forces would be deputed at the right time.
“After seeking information from the weather department, tourists should be updated through sending alert messages. Accident- prone areas along the Char Dham Yatra routes need to be identified and adequate policemen should be deputed to avoid untoward incidents,” DGP said.
The police officials must be deployed immediately after reports of disaster or accidents reach them. No time should be lost for beginning relief and rescue operation, he said.
He made a announcement that the police station in-charges using innovative technique for smooth conduct of Char Dham Yatra in their jurisdictional limits will be awarded with cash prize of Rs 20, 000.
Ganapathy also said that smoothening traffic system is another of his priorities. Controlling accidents is an imperative, given the rising number of accidents taking toll of lives. “Besides, we would stamp out the land forgeries with a heavy hand,” he said while talking to this correspondent. Apart from this, he would give importance to the matter of curbing crimes. “Another thing I would do is to make police department corruption free,” he said.
Stressing on quality of investigation, DGP said they must ensure that the offenders get the maximum quantum of punishment in the courts.