While meeting the district police chiefs on Tuesday, Garhwal Range deputy inspector general of police (DIG) Pushpak Jyoti sounded concerned over the crime rate spiraling in the region, particularly in Dehradun and Haridwar districts. He exhorted the senior superintendents of police to take stern measures to stem the tide of crimes.
He stressed on stopping the spate of burglaries occurring at regular intervals at the locked houses. This aside, keeping in mind the floating populations of the cities like Dehradun and Haridwar, he asked them to intensify the verification drives. This is an imperative to keep tab on those who are swarming in from other districts and states, he said. Besides, he asked the SSPs to convene regular meetings with the colony- based societies and to advise them to install gates and closed circuit television cameras apart from appointing guards to prevent crimes. In view of the March 9 election for Karnprayag Assembly seat, Pushpak Jyoti asked the police officers to deploy adequate forces at each of the polling centres to ensure peaceful polling. He said that the model code of conduct should be adhered to strictly. This aside, the DIG Garhwal asked the police officers to keep maximum vigil during the time of the counting of the votes on March 11. Peace must be ensured during the time and police must put their foot down on the elements which are likely to foment trouble during or after the counting, he said. Others present at the meeting included Pauri SSP Mukhtar Mohsin, Dehradun SSP Sweety Aggarwal, Haridwar SSP Krishan Kumar VK, Tehri SSP NS Napalchyal and Rudraprayag SP Pralad Narayan Meena.