The Haryana Police will launch a fortnight-long crackdown, beginning May 1 on illicit liquor, narcotics and weapons, crimes against women, drunken driving and over-speeding.
“All possible entry points will be plugged to stop the gangsters from sneaking into Haryana from Uttar Pradesh, and focus would be laid on redressing the complaints of people during the campaign,” said the newly appointed State Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sandhu while talking to the mediapersons on Sunday.
Referring to the supply of drugs in the State, he said an eye will be kept on the educational institutions and the suppliers and distributors will be nabbed.
When asked about Operation Durga aimed at checking eve-teasing in the State, the DGP said the operation will be carried out at such places as schools, colleges, bus-stands and railway stations.
It will be a continuous movement, he said. The DGP also clarified that the anti-romeo operation will not be an act of moral policing and the innocents will not be humiliated in the name of the operation.
On stopping the entry of anti-social elements into Haryana, he said that directions have been issued to keep a check on the entry of gangsters in Haryana from Uttar Pradesh. The water-level in the Yamuna River goes down in April, May and June and gangsters could use this to sneak into the State. Directions have been issued to keep a check on pucca roads as well as on other routes used by the gangsters to enter the state, he added.
Answering a question regarding the proposed agitation by INlD senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala on July 10, Sandhu said, in a democracy every political party has the right to present its viewpoint, but if it took the law in its own hands, action will be initiated.
A day before, the INlD leader had announced that its youth workers will stop the vehicles entering the State from Punjab at the Shambhu barrier near Ambala on July 10 as part of its demonstrations, demanding construction of the Sutlej Yamuna link (SYl) canal.
When asked about the shortage of staff in women police stations, Sandhu said that working of women police stations would be reviewed and the shortcomings will be removed.
The registration of cases of crimes against women has increased, he said.
Replying to another question, he said there is shortage of 14,000 police personnel, but recruitment process of 5,000 constables including 1,000 women and 1,000 ex-servicemen is under process.
Referring to cyber crime, the DGP said, “It is sensitive matter and a cyber cell is operational to deal with such cases. Soon, a Cyber Police Station would be set up at Moginand in Panchkula district which would deal with cyber related cases.”
Budgetary allocation has already been made for this police station and staff with particular set of qualifications, would be recruited through outsourcing. Police rules would be reviewed for further improving efficiency of the Department, he said.
In reply to a question, Sandhu said, action will be initiated against such police officers and officials in police lines as were using electricity connections in an unauthorised manner and their house allotment would be cancelled. “Initially, such officers and officials would be warned, but if they persisted with it, their allotment would be cancelled”, he added.
On the issue of cow protection, the DGP said that violation of ‘Gau Sanrakshan Avam Gau Samwardhan’ law would not be allowed and if anyone took the law in his hands, action would be initiated against him. There has been reduction in the number of cases of cow smuggling after the law came into force, he said.
Asked about illegal mining in the state, Sandhu said departments like Transport, Police, Mining and district administrations would work together to ensure implementation of the Act to stop this menace. Effective checking is being done and instructions have been issued for night checking. Complete check has been put on illegal mining, he added.
Talking about the initiative of e-challaning, Sandhu said that order had been placed with HARTRON for providing online e-challaning machines to effectively implement the e-challan system in all districts of the State. Presently, more than 100 e-challaning machines are available in the State.
Earlier, Sandhu interacted with senior police officers in all districts of the state through video-conferencing and apprised them of his vision and objectives and issued directions on how to achieve them.