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Members of city police’s Tiger Mobile squad keep vigil in Bistupur on Friday. Picture by Animesh Sengupta
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Only a safe Puja is a happy Puja. And Jamshedpur’s uniformed guardians are pulling out all the stops to give citizen safety a dependable meaning this festive season.
An army of 200 policemen — from 80 hawk-eyed ones in plain clothes to those toting rifles or saddled on beastly bikes — have descended on the streets to keep criminals, particularly vehicle-lifters, pickpockets and chain-snatchers, at bay.
With modern firearms and gadgets (wireless sets) or the traditional — but nonetheless intimidating — baton, the law enforcers are already making their presence felt at congested road intersections and crowded marketplaces.
The vigil points are mostly in Bistupur, Sakchi, Golmuri, Telco and Jugsalai, which are witnessing a daily sea of shoppers in the run-up to Durga Puja and Diwali.
Patrolling, intensified since Thursday, is continuing till late in the night to ward off eve-teasers, a chronic problem in the city. Sources in the police said women for once could step out and celebrate without worrying about tormentors.
Elaborating on the arrangements, city SP Ajay Linda said the Tiger Mobile force (policemen on bikes) have taken charge of intersections in prime locations like Bistupur and Sakchi. “They have been pressed into service in areas that are soft targets for vehicle-lifters and snatch gangs, who often use bikes as their escape vehicle. A policeman on bike can give a chase and catch them,” he pointed out.
The 40 Tigers are on the prowl at markets and temples, where people are easy prey for snatchers and other criminals. Linda said that though crimes such as vehicle theft and snatching had “drastically decreased” in the past two months, police would not drop guard and risk life and property of the public. So, the strict police bandobast will continue till the end of October, until after Durga Puja.
“Criminals tend to come out of their hibernation during festivities. We cannot take a chance,” the city SP said, adding that while snatchers and thieves would invite immediate arrest, eve-teaser might be let off with a warning if the offence is not of a very serious nature.
Besides crime control, the traffic wing of the district police department will also take road rogues to task.
“Safety means security from criminals as well as accident prevention. We have decided to crack down on rash driving and reckless biking. Violators of road rules — be it speedsters or those without helmet — will be slapped with spot fines. The lens will be on youths, who are 18 to 25 years old,” Linda said.
He added that arrangements — from crime control to mishap check — would be reviewed by East Singhbhum SSP Akhilesh Kumar Jha.
Are you satisfied with policing in the city ahead of Puja?
Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
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