Kerala - Kochi   

Community policing to be extended across the State, says Kodiyeri

Photo: Vipin Chandran

For a bright future: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan distributing study materials as part of Janamaithri Suraksha Paddhathy at a function in Kochi on Tuesday. —

KOCHI: The City Police have implemented community policing quite effectively and this will be extended across the State as part of the Janamaitri Suraksha Paddhiti, said Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Minister for Home and Tourism.

He was speaking at the community policing initiatives taken up by the City Police in the city on Tuesday. Out of 20 police stations selected for implementing the programme, three are in City Police limits.

The policing will be supplemented by associating with the private security personnel. While there are around 7,000 private security personnel in Thiruvananthapuram, there are more than 20,000 of them in Kochi.

As part of urbanisation, more and more strangers are coming into the city. It is to counter this aspect that the community policing initiative has been conceived, where all beat officers and residents association members will know residents in their locality, he said.

Committees should be formed at various levels of interaction, like colonies, residents associations, educational institutions and workplaces, to assist the police in fighting crime. Janamaitri programme should provide protection to physically challenged persons and senior citizens living alone.

The community policing drive will be extended across the State in a phased manner. Shortage of hands will be rectified, for that purpose, Mr. Balakrishnan said.

At the function held at Vinayaka Auditorium, Kadavanthra, Mr. Balakrishnan distributed study materials to 250 financially-weaker students of Udaya Colony, coming under the Kadavanthra police station.

Four free medical camps for 200 children were also being planned as part of the programme. This was being implemented in association with Lakshmi Hospital. A de-addiction and rehabilitation programme and an awareness drive against liquor and narcotic drugs were also launched on the occasion.

K.V. Thomas, MLA, presided. V.R. Rajiven, Additional Director General of Police, South Zone; Vinson M. Paul, Inspector General of Police, Ernakulam Range; Manoj Abraham, City Police Commissioner; Sebastian Paul, MP; K. Babu, MLA; T. Vikram, Deputy City Police Commissioner; film actor Dileep; Corporation councillors Tessy Jacob and Mercy George; and Dr. Prakash of Lakshmi Hospital, were present. In another function held at Gokulam Convention Centre, Mr. Balakrishnan received the keys of bicycles for beat officers from K.N. Raveendran, general manager of BPCL-KRL. The public sector company had sponsored 12 bicycles. A street play, titled Nammal Onnanu, intended to spread the message of community policing was also premiered on the occasion.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Seminar on joint replacement surgery
Community policing to be extended across the State, says Kodiyeri
Trade union plea
Engineering workshop
Sisubhavan denies allegations
Santhosh Madhavan in judicial custody
Vizhinjam work put on hold
Segregated collection of waste picking up
Former Mayor dead
Ernakulam colleges bag top ranks
A ‘stinking’ panchayat office
Three weeks in Sudanese captivity
Additional seats at SCMS
Bridle fake diviners: Krishna Iyer
Kochi Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu