SHILLONG, July 20: Making an effort to improve police-public relations, Director-General of Police (DGP) Lajja Ram Bishnoi on Wednesday visited the localities in the Mawlai area and interacted with the members of various Dorbar Shnongs.
The DGP made an earnest call to the Rangbah Shnongs, Dorbar Shnongs and the people of Mawlai to help the police eradicate the problem of drug abuse and drug trafficking in the area.
The DGP, accompanied by senior police officials including East Khasi Hills SP Sylvester Nongtnger and SP (City) Vivek Syiem, walked to get a feel of the area and understand the problems of the local people.
Bishnoi started his walk from Mawlai Mawroh and proceed towards Mawlai Kynton, Mawlai Phudmuri, Mawlai Nongpdeng and Mawlai Nonglum before stopping at Mawlai Mawiong.
He told reporters that he was happy to get the opportunity to interact with the Rangbah Shnongs, Rangbah Dongs and the citizens.
He said the Mawlai localities are by and large peaceful although some localities have complained about drug trafficking and drug peddlers.
He said there are a few cases of people from the countryside living in the Mawlai area for jobs and trade resorting to substance abuse and drug trafficking.
“I requested the members of the Dorbar Shnongs and Rangbah Shnongs to arrange an interaction with those youth who have fallen prey to drug abuse. If the need arises, we can increase patrolling in the affected areas,” the DGP said.
Bishnoi said they have a district-wise Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) constituted long ago. He also said an area-specific ANTF could be created, when asked about the meeting of the Seng Samla Mawlai Pyllun with Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday to demand a separate ANTF to deal with Mawlai’s drug-related issues.
“We are now concentrating on capacity-building of our police personnel through training and refresher courses to help them understand the NDPS Act and how to go about it,” the DGP said.
He further said that the police would focus more and more on interaction with the citizens. “We can always relook if there is any misunderstanding between the police and the citizens. My aim is to develop a friendly rapport with the citizens. We can take their help in policing and dealing with crimes,” he said.
The objective was to pre-empt and prevent crime, he added.
“We want to involve the citizens in general and the Dorbar Shnongs in particular in the crime prevention strategies. Many crimes can be prevented if people come forward with information. Our main aim is to help the people and not to harass them,” the DGP said.
He also said the police are planning to visit a locality every week in an attempt to improve the police-public relationship.
