Patna, July 5: All police stations in the state capital have been directed to increase patrolling near schools in a bid to check unfortunate accidents involving schoolchildren.

Most of the schools in Patna have re-opened after vacation and Patna senior superintendent of police Alok Kumar said that patrolling near the school premises will cut down on the number of mishaps.

Directions have also been given to the men in uniform in each police station to give a receiving slip with a number on it to each petitioner coming down to a station during the one-hour meeting time.

“The schools have re-opened and directions have been passed to the police to remain present near the schools during the time they open and close. There have been some unfortunate incidents in the past involving schoolchildren and police presence will help. The police will manage the traffic movement and look out for speedsters when the children are on the road,” Alok said.

The SSP added that the police have also been directed to expedite the court cases involving criminals in a bid to have a better conviction rate.

“The witnesses with regard to the cases should be produced in the court on a timely basis. This will ensure faster punishment and court decisions,” the officer said.

In addition to this, the dugdugi or the drums drive of the police to flush out absconders, has been revived this time with special emphasis on those who have committed serious crimes like murders, dacoities, rapes.

“The drive was started by Patna police in April. It aims at playing drums aloud in the locality of an absconder according to the police records and then reading out the details of the person. The drive was a huge success and more than 1,000 absconders were arrested. Now, the police have been asked to emphasise on those absconders who have committed serious offences,” the SSP said.

On the other hand, the police have started one-hour meeting with petitioners between 12 noon and 1pm everyday. Officers and station house officers of all the police stations have been asked to remain present to meet the people.

“It is not possible that the SHO is present in the meeting all the time. In case of an emergency, the second or the third officer of the police station should remain present. People visiting would be given a receiving slip with a number on it. They can refer the number whenever they come later and the police can look into the cases. This will ensure faster action,” the SSP said.