May 5: City cops, who are hard-pressed enough as it is ? tackling law and order problems and looking after VIPs ? will now have their work cut out as they fight another kind of battle. The battle of the bulge.

Policemen now have to curb their growing waistlines, following a directive from the Assam Police headquarters.

Official sources said Assam police chief P.V. Sumant, during a high-level meeting on Monday, directed police personnel here, from inspectors to constables, to go in for vigorous exercise to shape up.

?Sumant was perturbed by the adverse comments on body weight of police officials made by eminent citizens during an interaction meet on Saturday. Renuka Debi Barkatoki, secretary of the Assam state branch of the Red Cross, who was present at the meet, said it was very discouraging to see pot-bellied policemen on city streets. They look rather odd, she pointed out,? a source said.

The directive, which declared that perceptible changes in the body shape of policemen must be noticed within 15 days, has generated a great deal of interest and curiosity among the cops as well as the public.

Most of the officers-in-charge confirmed receiving the directive but merely said some initiatives are being taken at the earliest.

?City cops, whose work pressure is mounting day by day, are left with very little time to look after their health. But that cannot be an excuse when you are in police service,? one O-C said.

Sources said the officers-in- charge would be called for a review meeting, scheduled to be held next week. The meeting would elicit the opinions of O-Cs on the directive.

The officers would engage in an in-house discussion on effectively implementing the recommendations and suggestions of the citizens to transform the physical and mental well-being of the cops.

Sumant has also directed policemen to learn paramedical exercises. ?On many occasions, such as after mishaps, policemen are found to be helpless ? they cannot even give first aid to the victims,? the DGP told his officials.

The directive also wants police stations to be kept clean and disciplined. The Assam Police headquarters has taken note of complaints that many people are reluctant to go to police stations as the ambience there is pretty bad.

The directive also calls for appointment of smart cops at the traffic branch here. Not only will they have to tackle traffic snarls, but also have to put a halt to unauthorised plying of vehicles with sirens and red lights.

The Assam Police headquarters has also decided to take the help of psychiatrists like Deepali Dutta, who said there was an urgent need to study the psychological profile of the cops.

?Cops are frequently stressed and under pressure, which can take a toll on their behavioural pattern. Since our childhood days, we have been living with the impression that the police cannot be nice and kind,? she said.

Assam Olympic Association secretary Mukut Medhi, who participated in the interactive meet, suggested that the cops should go in for meditation every morning and recreational activities in the day.

This would help cops overcome various types of pressure at work. He advised cops to go in for deep breathing or relaxation exercises whenever they face tough situations. That way, they will be able to function efficiently.

?I suggest that facilities like swimming pools, playgrounds and clubs should be created, where policemen can go and unwind,? he said.

Sources said the headquarters is scheduled to send a set of guidelines to all police stations soon.

These guidelines would be read out during the roll call exercise that takes place at the police stations in the evening hours, a police officer said.

Though the new directive is expected to bring about much-awaited changes in Assam police, residents are still cynical.

?Such a move was initiated earlier but yielded no result,? said Dhiren Baruah, a senior resident.