The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : How city police have come a long way

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 06, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

How city police have come a long way

K. T. Sangameswaran

Expo on past and present

CHENNAI : "Blake Telephone" of 1880, "A 1919 Dial Instrument", "CB Wall Instrument" — Contrast these with sleek telephones, "laptop computers", "sleek VHF monitor sets" and a "modern control room".

Advancements in technology and modernisation made by successive governments have revolutionised the Chennai Metropolitan Police when compared to the equipment available in the 19th century

These and other features, including the strides made by the finger-print bureau started in 1895, said to be one of the earliest and oldest such facilities in the world, changes in the uniform for policemen, provision of the most modern weapon to the force and specimen instruments of the police music band make up a small exhibition with the theme "Andrum, Indrum" (then and now) organised at the Rajarathinam Stadium to coincide with the 150th year celebrations of the Chennai City Police.

Though not on a scale one will normally expect of a historic occasion, a visitor to the show may well be impressed with the exhibits reminding him or her of the past.

However, true to the saying that the old order gives way to the new, a model of the present Ashoknagar police station, sub-machine guns, self-loading rifles, AK-47, Helpline, Child Line, Women's Help Line... remind visitors of the present era in which the police force has undergone modernisation.

Exhibitions such as the one organised may go a long way in strengthening public confidence in the law and order machinery.

However, the enthusiasm of those manning the stalls does not match that of the curious public.

On Friday morning, a nylon rope had been tied across to prevent public entry to the communication stall though some of visitors were interested in seeing the exhibits.

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