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Law & Order

The community policing initiative of the city police has made a difference, says G. Anand

`Ayal Sangamam' launched to step up neighbourhood security

The Vanchiyoor Residents' Association has launched a novel programme, `Ayal Sangamam,' to strengthen neighbourhood security by fostering good relations between close neighbours.

There are 326 houses in the residential association. Association president Punchakkary Raveendran Nair says the locality has been divided into sub-units of 10 houses each for better management of neighbourhood security and also other issues concerning the community.

Better response

Members of each sub-unit exchange their telephone numbers for better group response in the event of a distress call from a fellow resident.

"For instance, if there is some sound at night, the residents of the sub-unit will call and alert each other. They will switch on lights and scout the area for troublemakers or burglars," he says. The scheme will be inaugurated by Mayor C. Jayan Babu on September 17.

A committee member of the association will head each `Ayal Sangamam' unit.

The units will meet regularly, discuss and sort out problems, including minor disputes, and address issues of public health, hygiene and security of the locality. The sub-units will also protect unoccupied houses in the event a resident leaves his home on a long holiday. Vanchiyoor area had seen a spate of burglaries in 2004-2005. Mr. Ravi says the security situation has improved and no burglary has been reported in Vanchiyoor area in recent times.

The area has also been rid of drunks and troublemakers for now.

The community policing initiative of the city police has made a difference here, he says. Selected residents joined the police on night patrol.

In other residential areas of the city, resident associations are providing auto rickshaws and torchlights for policemen on night patrol.

Many `Maithri Suraksha' scheme volunteers are using motorbikes to patrol their respective areas along with the police. According to the city police, no night-time burglaries have been reported this Onam season.

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