Maharashtra: New batch of cops to be trained to handle civil curfew, coordinate with state govt
The training will lay down guidelines and measures to be followed by the force in case of a civil curfew and how the personnel are to deal with violators. Besides, as police personnel can also get infected, guidelines are needed on how they should tackle situations like a civil curfew.
Policemen at a checkpoint in Mumbai. (Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)
In order to ensure that the police force evolves with the changing circumstances brought in by pandemics like Covid-19, the new batch of Maharashtra Police personnel is likely to be trained in implementing civil curfews, using medical equipment like oximeters and maintaining horizontal coordination to keep in touch with other arms of the government.
These new aspects are likely to be included in the next three-yearly training course for new recruits.
A senior officer from the state police said that while the force knows how to impose a curfew that follows a criminal act, officers are still learning the ropes when it comes to imposing a civil curfew like in the current case. “In a curfew following a law and order problem, the police tend to use violence to ensure the situation does not go out of control. Anti-social elements are also put behind bars. In this case, however, the person on the street may not have an ulterior motive,” the officer said.
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