In its bid to rein in eve-teasers and snatchers and curb street crimes, Gurugram Police is mulling to adopt ‘Cheetah Rider’ scheme of Bengaluru Police. Gurugram Police top brass have written to the Director General of Police (Haryana) for approval to study the quite effective ‘Cheetah Rider’ scheme of Bengaluru Police.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarters), Deepak Gahlawat is expected to visit Bengaluru to study the functioning of Cheetah Squads and interact with the officers of Bengaluru Police who operate and supervise these squads. Colour of Cheetah vehicles, patrolling shifts and electronic gadgets will be finalised once the DCP meets his counterparts of Bengaluru police, said a senior police official .
“We have sent a proposal to higher authorities for sending a DCP rank officer to Bengaluru for studying Cheetah Rider Scheme. Gurugram shares many things in common with Bengaluru, being a fast emerging metropolis with a similar demographic profile,” Commissioner of Gurugram police, Sandeep Khirwar told The Pioneer.
“For Cheetah Squads we are planning to deploy 4 to 5 patrolling vehicles for each 35 police stations in Gurugram. Residents of Gurugram will feel safe with the presence of these squads. Also, we will ask the State Government for more manpower for the squad,” Khirwar added.
Around 140 to 175 Cheetah Squads are expected to be deployed in the entire Gurugram district to offer immediate help to victims of petty offences like chain snatching and eve-teasing.
Cheetah squads will be given a new look and police personnel riding police vehicles would remain stationed at main crossings and intersections and would remain in direct touch with the police control room.
Cheetah squads will patrol city roads round-the-clock to deter chain snatchers, robbers and other criminals. The Cheetah squads would also help accident victims and senior citizens as well, the police official added.
Bengaluru Police has already launched Motorcycle Patrolling-cum-Response squads, which have been effectively used to tackle offences such as chain snatching and eve-teasing. These squads have reportedly proved to be an effective and prompt response mechanism and brought accolades to Bengaluru Police, the Commissioner of Police said.
Gurugram police had earlier adopted many strategies to check petty crimes. The previous measures included anti-chain snatching teams, ensuring conviction for the offenders, keeping a tab on local offenders and nabbing inter-State gangs operating in the city.
As of now, the Gurugram anti-snatching teams have managed to arrest five different gangs who were operating in the city. These include Namaste Gang, Surender alias Sheru Gang, Mewati Gang, Bawaria Gang (Shamli) and the Bawaria Gang. last year, a total of 409 mobile, chain, purse and cash snatching cases were reported and around 154 were traced while this year, till June around 225 snatching were registered.