No police transfers for three months, says Pandya

GANDHINAGAR, Aug 12: Alarmed by the rising crime graph in the State, the Keshubhai Patel-led BJP Government has chalked out a comprehensi...

GANDHINAGAR, Aug 12: Alarmed by the rising crime graph in the State, the Keshubhai Patel-led BJP Government has chalked out a comprehensive action plan to further strengthen the police force to check crimes.

The Cabinet on Wednesday discussed the nine-point plan at a meeting and decided to implement it immediate effect. While discussing the “result-oriented” action plan, certain senior ministers expressed serious concern over increasing incidence of crimes and suggested that the trend be checked firmly.

Surprisingly, the Cabinet did not discuss the recent mob attacks on Christians and Muslims by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang dal activists and the National Minorities Commission team which is touring the State.

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There was also no mention in the action plan about measures to protect the lives and properties of the minorities.

After the Cabinet meeting, Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya told reporters that under the plan transfers of police officers, except in extraordinary circumstances, would be frozen for the next three months to evaluate performances during the period.

He said it was decided to fill up the vacant posts of constables and police sub-Inspectors within 10 days, while the first grade head constables would be elevated to the post of assistant sub-Inspectors and given charge of PSIs in vacant positions. Of the 1,787 vacant posts of constables, 1,300 will be filled through the waiting list, while 650 vacant posts of PSIs will also be filled within 10 days.

Pandya said the range DIGs and IGPs would be given additional power in districts to detain offenders under PASA. At present, this power is vested only in district collectors and city police commissioners. Besides, a three-member panel of leading lawyers will be made available for each of the district police chiefs and police commissioners to effectively fight a legal battle against criminals.

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Under the action plan, the performance of each of the police stations in districts and major cities would be evaluated every month by senior police officers who will report to the range IGPs and commissioners who in turn would report to the DGP. A day-to-day monitoring of serious crimes will be done by additional DGP, CID Crime, P C Pandey, and police officers detecting crimes effectively would be rewarded.

The Minister said 25 new posts of senior divisional police officers would be created immediately for effective functioning of the police at the district-level, while PSIOs manning chowkies in all major cities would be provided pagers and watch towers and close circuit TV sets installed at major railway stations.