To strengthen the policing by increasing the number of police stations and police posts, the State police department had submitted several memorandums to the state administration over the past few years. However, due to official inefficiency, the matter keeps pending before the State Government. Due to the State Government dragging its feet, policing remains crippled in many of the mountainous parts of the State. Things are further compounded after the Patwaris who are in charge of both the revenue and police works in these areas have been on an indefinite strike for the past many days.
Moreover, the Government order (GO) on utilisation of 75 per cent of the total amount collected in the form of traffic violation penalties by the police department is yet to be executed. Several police stations in the State cover large areas and effective policing is not possible unless police posts are adequately re-jigged.
Meanwhile, in order to maintain law and order and provide better administration, State police had sent several proposals, seeking establishment of 19 police posts under the police stations and also establishment of eight police stations under the revenue police area of the State, but this proposal is pending before the State Government.
Uttarakhand Director General of Police BS Sidhu, who sounded disappointed when this correspondent asked him to clear stance on the issue, said, “We had sent several proposals to the State Government. Recently, we have raised the issue with the State Home Minister Pritam Singh. Yet, the issue is still pending before the State Government.” Sidhu expressed hope that such proposals would be addressed soon.
On condition of anonymity, a senior police officer said that in view of the increasing population in the form of migration to earn livelihood, it is an imperative to replace revenue police with regular police. To meet exigency in view of the state being prone to natural disaster, to curb crime cases and to ensure smooth traffic flow in the revenue police area, such a re-jigging is essential, he added.
There are large number police posts in the state which are bereft of the basic amenities like rooms, toilets, prisons for locking up thieves and the like. Such proposals sent to the State Government are yet to be cleared. Moreover, several police stations cover large areas resulting in spiraling crime cases. This aside, people have to trudge long distances to report at the police stations.
For instance, in the recent armed burglary cum murder case in Nakrunda, Balawala which comes under Raipur police station area, around six unidentified criminals had murdered a 23-year- old person named Ankit and injured four of his family members on September 10. Nakraunda shares boundary with Doiwala police station which is far away from Raipur police station. Circumstanced thus, the people are insecure as neither policemen from Raipur police station nor those from Doiwala police station conduct patrolling in the Balawala area. Criminals, seemingly aware of this policing lacuna, are committing crimes and fleeing with impunity. Had police post been established there, the criminals might not have found things easy, said the residents. Demarcation of several police stations areas apart from establishing new police stations and police posts must be done to stop the criminals from making a mockery of policing, they said.