Police dept mulls new initiative under Safe-Secure-Shillong project
SHILLONG: The State Police is mulling options to rope in youths for maintenance of law and order in the State under the Safe-Secure-Shillong project.
Talking to media persons here recently, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police M Kharkrang said the State police was trying to involve youths in joint patrolling with police personnel.
“It would be of immense help since local youths would have better knowledge about their respective localities,” Kharkrang told reporters.
The State Police also want commercial establishments in various localities of the city to install CCTV cameras on their premises to curb instances of crime in the city.
When asked if the project has been of any help in reducing crimes across the city, the police official said, “It is not correct to say that crime rates have reduced drastically immediately after the launching of the programme.”
The police department has been also organising awareness programmes in colleges and schools of the district to sensitize youths on issues pertaining to crime, law and order and traffic management.
The SP, meanwhile, pointed out that youths are now more open to the police while discussing on crime-related issues thanks to the initiative.
Kharkrang also stated that there has been improvement in traffic discipline after the launch of the project.
The Safe-Secure-Shillong project, a brain child of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, which was launched during the tenure of the then DGP N Ramachandran aims to forge a strong partnership between the police and the community towards reduction of crime and improvement of security.
The project will be introduced in other districts of the State soon.