Police commissioner outlines strategy at annual crime review of Pune.
Concerned with the rising incidence of chain snatching, the police commissioner, Meeran Chadha Borwankar, on Friday said they are going to request the judiciary not to give bail easily to chain snatchers as they are creating terror in the city.
Addressing the media at the annual crime press conference, Borwankar said, “I have personally interrogated chain snatching suspects. Now college students are also involved in the crime.”
She added, “We are taking this issue seriously and have been doing our best to tackle it. We expect that the police station should detect the cases in the future.”
The city police are taking help of the traffic police. If a chain snatching incident is reported, the traffic police check two-wheelers and pillion riders.
The police recorded 62 more chain snatching cases last year. In 2010, 240 chain snatching cases were reported while 302 cases were recorded last year. A special squad, headed by a senior police inspector of the crime branch, has been set up to tackle the cases.
Major challenges
The city police were able to solve 21% of the vehicle thefts cases registered last year.
On an average, eight vehicles were stolen daily in 2011, compared to nine in 2010. According to the police, there was a decrease in number of thefts of four-wheelers in 2011 compared to 2010.
Senior police officials admitted that it is a major challenge to curb vehicle thefts. “A majority of the thefts take place in localities close to rural areas. It is easy for goons to flee with vehicles, unlike in the heart of the city, where due to traffic signals it is difficult to escape,” they said. The vulnerable areas are Hadapsar, Yerawada, Bhosari, Pimpri, Nigdi and Kothrud.
The police said more parking zones were needed to prevent vehicle theft. “If vehicles are parked in authorised parking zones, there are fewer chances of them being stolen since there is an attendant,” they said.
To prevent crimes against women, the city police have started a special cell. They have started a helpline for women (020-26111103) with the aim of providing help within 20 minutes.
Be polite, police chief tells cops
Borwankar expressed concern over the way police behaved with citizens and suggested that they be polite. Borwankar has appealed to police officials and constabulary to treat citizens with utmost respect and etiquette.
The police have started eight hours’ fixed duty for police personnel manning the city police stations.
She said, “After the success at Bhosari police station, the project of eight-hour duty has been started at different police stations. As a result, most of the constables are happy and find enough time for the family.”
Watch on criminal candidates
The police have decided to keep a close watch on candidates who have criminal records during the elections. They have made a list of suspects who are creating havoc. The police have observed that some people from fringe areas of the city are creating trouble in the city.
Borwankar said, “We are making a list of the suspects and keeping close tabs on them. If necessary, appropriate action will be taken.”
The zonal deputy commissioner of police would give permission for the political rallies.
There will be no permission for political rallies at public places, chowks and on roads to avoid traffic chaos.
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