Ashok Nagar, one of the popular neighbourhoods of the state capital housing residences of more than 70 former and present IPS, IFS and IAS officers besides doctors, engineers, architects, advocates and other notables, can hope for heightened security soon.
A thana outpost, spread across an area of 2,400sqft, is almost ready for inauguration in the locality. Surrounded by a shopping complex, a community hall and the office of the Services Housing Co-operative Society Limited that looks after civic amenities, the centrally located police outpost near road No. 2 of the colony will function under Argora police station and has every facility for policemen so that they can live comfortably and discharge their duties well.
The asbestos-roofed outpost has two rooms - one for office and the other for residential purpose - four bathrooms, a barrack where the constables will stay and a kitchen. It has round-the-clock water supply facility and power connection too.
Chairman of Services Housing Co-operative Society Limited and retired IFS officer M.P. Sinha said police presence would help ensure foolproof security in the locality, which has become an easy target for snatchers during evening.
"Around 10,000 people reside in Ashok Nagar that has 508 houses, some of which were converted into offices of government and private agencies. In the absence of a police outpost in the locality, private security guards were finding it hard to ensure vigil in the colony. There were reports of snatching cases every three to four months. Therefore, the society decided to provided space and building to establish a police outpost," Sinha said, adding that construction was expected to be completed within three to four days after which the outpost would start functioning.
SSP Kuldeep Dwivedi added that once the building was handed over to police, the thana outpost would be formally inaugurated.
"The outpost will be under Argora police station. Jawans of Special Auxiliary Police are expected to be deputed there," he said.
Officer-in-charge of Argora police station Ratibhan Singh said it would be the second outpost under them.
"Once inaugurated, it will be the second outpost in Argora police station area. Earlier on July 21, an outpost was inaugurated at Kadru, which is about one kilometre from Ashok Nagar," Singh added.
Local residents like Maheshwar Lal welcomed the move.
"After the outpost becomes functional, it will stand in for Argora police station. Earlier, Argora police station used to run from a building behind this new outpost. But the thana was shifted to Harmu two years ago, taking police far from us. The new outpost will reduce that distance and make us feel safer," he said.
