The magnitude of the Kumbh Mela to be held in Haridwar during 2021 will depend on the status of Covid-19 at that time. If that period is free of Covid restrictions, it will be free for all but if the restrictions are still in place, the entry will be restricted as stated by chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. The only uncertainty around the Kumbh Mela is that centered around Covid-19, said the director general (Law and Order), Ashok Kumar in an online interaction with The Pioneer on Thursday.
Referring to the challenges faced by the Uttarakhand police due to Covid-19, the DG said that since this was a situation never faced before, the first challenge was to enforce the lockdown effectively yet politely. “The police had to discharge their duty without losing their humane face. We helped in distribution of ration, home delivery of essential commodities and medicines. Now with the unlock process in effect, we have a different scenario to face. People are going about their lives and earning their livelihood but precautions and guidelines have to be observed. We have issued about three lakh challans for violations of the norms so far,” he said.
When it comes to the challenges faced by the police apart from the pandemic, the DG said that top priorities are crime control, law and order, and traffic while drug abuse and cyber crimes are also aspects which cannot be ignored. Regarding substance abuse, the DG said that though cannabis and opium are two groups of traditional drugs in India, their use has now increased. The rise in abuse of synthetic drugs in recent years has increased the challenge which can be tackled effectively only with the active participation of society. “We have a two-pronged battle against drugs- one is the enforcement targeting the suppliers and the other is to raise public awareness as with that we can tackle the demand side which will also attack the supply. We need to take the youth towards positivity involving all segments of society as this is a major problem ailing society. Anyone with information about drug dealing can call or WhatsApp the anti-drug task force on 94120 29536.”
Responding to a query on measures taken to address the scope for corruption and misuse of power by the police, Kumar said that there is a triple chance of misuse of power by police. “Therefore, we have to keep enforcing discipline and standards within the police. On an average, we take some type of action against about 500 personnel per year when an allegation of corruption or misuse of power is confirmed as the accountability factor is very high in our department.”
The DG further informed that before the pandemic the trust quotient of the police was about 30 per cent which was boosted considerably during the pandemic as the people saw the police working on the ground and helping people. As a result of the people friendly role played by the police, the trust quotient rose to about 90 per cent though it has dropped slightly after the lockdown ended. This is also because the police are now also enforcing discipline as part of their inherent role. Though the trust quotient may not remain as high as 90 per cent, it will surely remain between 50 to 70 per cent, he added.
Regarding cyber crimes, he said that despite the challenges, the Uttarakhand police is very well trained in dealing with such crimes. At least one sub-inspector in each police station has been trained well in tackling cyber crime and the State police have cracked a considerable number of cases. However, when the information on social media goes outside the nation as in the case of social media platforms like Facebook, the police face an additional challenge in trying to secure the information. Awareness is very vital as nothing is 100 per cent secure online, he stressed.
Replying to a query about how the police will effectively enforce Covid guidelines and other rules, he stressed on the role of public awareness and a sense of responsibility among the citizens. Regarding noise pollution from wedding points late in the night, he said though the police will take necessary action in such cases, it is also important that pressure groups be formed among citizens as the society also needs to partner in resolving social issues.
Considering the recent tensions between India and China coupled with issues with Nepal, the DG said, “I cannot comment much on international issues but it is certain that China is not India-friendly. It also started dividing India and Nepal who have shared close relations for centuries. Nepal also needs to understand the reality.”
On the subject of community policing, he pointed out the limited sources of the department while also stressing on the importance of civic sense. The people also need to understand their responsibility. “I am also thinking of forming a task force involving the community to deal with littering and other issues in places like picnic spots. It is important to understand that policing is for the public and the community also needs to be involved.”
Conveying his message to the public, he reiterated that the police is meant for the public, adding that the people should also trust the police and bring any issues to their knowledge- the police are open to all issues.