BHUBANESWAR : In a novel attempt to prevent crime before it takes place, police in Jagatsinghpur district have donned a new role.

Police personnel are now busy writing scripts, learning acting skills and finally staging short-plays to make people aware on `preventive policing' programme. As the district happens to be place of origin of many Yatra (folk opera) troupes, the police have rightly adopted the popular art medium to disseminate the message to the people. A play they staged as part of the campaign at Magha Mela fair near Raghunathpur drew a huge crowd on Monday evening. "Our aim is to educate people to shun domestic violence, child torture, dowry-related cruelty and violence pertaining to casteism. If we succeed in putting our message across to even a small segment of population, we will be happy with that," district Superintendent of Police Y. K. Jethwa told The Hindu.

As police personnel at the bottom of hierarchy were in regular contacts with the masses, they were entrusted with the task, Mr. Jethwa said. The scripts of the plays have been prepared in simple language simultaneously containing a mild warning for those who indulge in such crimes. The plays are being staged at weekly haats.

Main target

The police teams are also performing street-plays in the busy market places attracting a good number of people. "Our main target is to caution people about the consequence of crime and dissuade them from committing many such offence in the days to come," Mr Jethwa, who had past experience of introducing cultural programmes to build up public awareness against sorcery and naxalism in Sundargarh district, said.

The police have organised yatra at five to six places and are likely to continue for a longer period. "Yatras helped reduce stress in police force. As other policemen who watch their colleague performing also get a break from the routine life," the SP said.

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