Senior officials of State constabulary discussed crime control and reviewed progress on naxal operations on Saturday at the Police Headquarters here. As instilling confidence about the system through various mechanisms formed the crux of the marathon brainstorming
session, witchcraft and remedial measures also formed the part of the discussion chaired by Director General of Police, DK Pandey.
Following the gruesome killing of five women in Kaniya village in Mandar for allegedly practicing witchcraft, the State police decided to go for a holistic approach to address the menace and devise strategies based on the number of incidents reported in one decade. The State police are likely to counter the practice with the help of village chowkidar who will be responsible for identifying the initial signs.
“We are mapping cases of witchcraft reported in last one decade and strategies will be made accordingly. The discussion was more about how to prevent these practices by identifying preliminary signs like when someone is being socially ostracised, taking note of it and taking actions,” said ADG (Operations) and Jharkhand Police Spokesperson, SN Pradhan.
The meeting started with two minutes silence observed to remember martyrdom of Rumul Seviaya who laid his life in an anti-naxal operation in Dulmi, Khunti. Ranchi SSP, Prabhat Kumar, injured in the operation, was also felicitated on the occasion.
The routine meeting also reviewed progress made against the ultras and ‘Operation Muskan’ with specific instructions from the top cop of Jharkhand police to keep the anti-establishment forces on back foot.
Notably, the department felicitated superintendents of police—Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Sanjeev Kumar, YS Ramesh, Anoop Birtharay, Michael Raj— for their contribution to the state’s battle to silence the guns of ultras.
“The year has passed very well in terms of achievements. Obviously we have done something right yet we are keeping our fingers crossed that they do not execute big incidents. The decision was to continue present strategy as offence is the best form of defense,” added Pradhan.
The review meet discussed security of VIPs, improving infrastructure of control rooms, security in jail and court premises, contribution of JAP jawans and their skill enhancement, CCTNS, online system of filing FIR and recruitment on the sanctioned posts.
The meeting planned deployment strategies for panchayat elections and district police officials have been instructed to strengthen infrastructure before the elections schedules in October-November.
IG (Organised Crime), CID Sampat Meena and eight other superintendents of police were also felicitated for their contribution for better performances.