Police Advisory Committee for better community participation

Amritsar Police has set up Police Advisory Committee to streamline the project COP (Community oriented Policing). Besides this two separate committees have been set up to improve traffic system and to tackle with drug menace. Area Defense Committees will be set up for every Police Station in the next phase.

The Police Advisory Committee will assist the police in various key policing areas. The committee comprising of various stakeholders of the society can be able to suggest measures to improve the functioning of police and also to make it more community friendly. The committee will sit at least twice in a month at a convenient place to discuss the core policing issues.

The committee will consist of:

1. The representatives of Rotary Club Amritsar
2. Senior professors of Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar
3. Principals of schools and Colleges
4. Members of District Civil Defense
5. Representatives of Trade and industries
6. Representatives of CII (Confederation of Indian Industries)
7. Representatives of Bar
8. Any person who volunteers for the common cause

Traffic Advisory Committee: This committee will suggest measures to improve the traffic system in the City and also to assist in the implementation process. Honorary Traffic wardens will be selected to assist the police in the enforcement of traffic rules as well as to create awareness in the masses.

Drug Awareness Committee: This committee has been set up to tackle with the menace of drugs. The committee consisting of intellectuals, educationist and professionals will suggest measures to curb the supply line of drugs and also to create awareness among the masses to reduce the demand line.

Advantages:

1. To bring the community and the police closer
2. To bring infrastructural reforms in the core policing areas
3. To take help from the common people to improve police functioning
4. To provide maximum satisfaction to common people
5. To ensure strict action against the criminals

Responsibilities and obligations of common citizens in the Policing

It is the responsibility of a common citizen to assist the police in certain cases as well as to provide information to the police regarding commission of various crimes.

Section 37 of the Criminal Procedure Code of India gives obligations to the common citizen to assist the police and the magistrates:

Every person is bound to assist a Magistrate or police officer reasonably demanding his aid-

(a) in the taking or preventing the escape of any other person whom such Magistrate or police officer is authorised to arrest; or

(b) in the prevention or suppression of a breach of the peace; or

(c) in the prevention of any injury attempted to be committed to any railway, canal, telegraph or public property.

Section 39 of the Criminal Procedure Code of India enumerates certain kinds of information to be given to the police by the common citizens:

(1) Every person, aware of the commission of, or of the intention of any other person to commit, any offence punishable under any of the following sections of the Indian Penal

Code,(45 of 1860) namely:-

(i) Sections 121 to 126, both inclusive, and section 130 (that is to say, offences against the State specified in Chapter VI of the said Code);

(ii) Sections 143, 144, 145, 147 and 148 (that is to say, offences against the public tranquility specified in Chapter VIII of the said Code);

(iii) Offences relating to illegal gratification

(iv) Sections 272 to 278, both inclusive (that is to say, offences relating to adulteration of food and drugs, etc.);

(v) Sections 302, 303 and 304 (that is to say, offences affecting life);

(vi) section 382 (that is to say, offence of theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt or restraint in order to the committing of the theft);

(vii) Sections 392 to 399, both inclusive, and section 402 (that is to say, offences of robbery and dacoity);

(viii) Section 409 (that is to say, offence relating to criminal breach of trust by public servant, etc.);

(ix) Sections 431 to 439, both inclusive (that is to say, offences of mischief against property);

(x) Sections 449 and 450 (that is to say, offence of house-trespass);

(xi) Sections 456 to 460, both inclusive (that is to say, offences of lurking house-trespass); and

(xii) Sections 489A to 489E, both inclusive (that is to say, offences relating to currency notes and bank notes),

shall, in the absence of any reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which excuse shall lie upon the person so aware, forthwith give information to the nearest Magistrate or police officer of such commission or intention.

Every Citizen is a Police Officer

Every citizen is a police officer without uniform and every police officer is a common citizen in uniform. Every citizen has been given power of a police officer to ensure peace and order in the society and thus a common citizen can contribute a lot in the maintenance of law and order in the society. Section 43 of the Criminal Procedure Code of India bestowed power of arrest to the common citizen if a cognizable and non- bailable offence is committed in his or her presence. The section 43 says:

“(1) Any private person may arrest or cause to be arrested any person who in his presence commits a non-bailable and cognizable offence, or any proclaimed offender, and, without unnecessary delay, shall make over or cause to be made over any person so arrested to a police officer, or, in the absence of a police officer, take such person or cause him to be taken in custody to the nearest police station.

(2) If there is reason to believe that such person comes under the provisions of section 41, a police officer shall re-arrest him.

(3) If there is reason to believe that he has committed a non-cognizable offence, and he refuses on the demand of a police officer to give his name and residence, or gives a name or residence which such officer has reason to believe to be false, he shall be dealt with under the provisions of section 42; but if there is no sufficient reason to believe that he has committed any offence, he shall be at once released.”

Acid attack case solved

News Item: The Times of India

'Sister involved in acid attack'

30 Aug 2007, 0143 hrs IST,TNN

AMRITSAR: Police claim to have solved the mystery behind the acid attack on two girls — Sharanjit Kaur alias Sonia and Ekta — some days back. According to SSP Kanwar Vijay Partap Singh, it was Sonia’s sister Paramjit Kaur who had connived with her paramour, an Army jawan, to throw acid on her since Paramjit did not want Sonia to marry her boyfriend.

Talking to media persons on Wednesday, Singh said police had arrested Jagroop Singh alias Banti, who is serving in the Army at Karmroop in Assam, and his accomplice Gaurav Kalyani alias Bali.

Giving details of the incident, he said Banti was brother-in-law of Sonia’s brother Jaswant Singh and had an affair with Paramjit Kaur, while Sonia had a love affair with one Ranjit alias Jeetu. None of the sisters liked each other’s boyfriends and were opposed to their marriage in the family.

On August 17, Paramjit informed Banti that her sister Sonia would be coming from village Mallanwali to her beauty parlour in Gumtala. Banti, along with Balli, was waiting for Sonia in the village. When Sonia and Ekta reached the village, Balli threw acid on Sonia, and then took the evening train for Guwahati.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Chandigarh/Sister_involved_in_acid_attack/articleshow/2321365.cms

No arrest without sufficient evidence

No arrest without sufficient evidence
The District police has issued broad guidelines to bring transparency in the arrest. It is going to prevent the misuse of the provision of arrest. Some of the guidelines are as follows:

The guidelines issued by the Supreme Court regarding arrest in DK Basu case will be followed in letter and spirit.
No one will be locked up in the lock up of Police Station without effecting arrest.
There will be a transition room in every Police Station at the entry gate of the police station. Examination or interrogation of a person called in the police station will be carried out in this transition room only.
Arrest will be effected if and only if there is sufficient evidence on case file against the person to be arrested. If the investigating officer makes his prima facie mind to arrest a person in any FIR, he will inform about it to the DSP concerned with all the facts and circumstances. The DSP after visiting the police station or over telephone will order to arrest the person if he is convinced with proof and evidence collected by the Investigating officer against the person.
After that an entry will be made in the daily diary regarding arrest and the person will be arrested with due procedure of law.

News: The Tribune: September 05, 2007

No arrest without sufficient proof

The district police chief has issued instructions regarding person’s arrest as per guidelines issued by the apex court. No one would be locked up in police station without effecting arrest. A person would only be arrested when the investigating officer has sufficient evidence. If the investigating officer makes prima facie mind to arrest a person in any FIR, he has to inform the DSP concerned about it with all facts and circumstances.

The DSP after visiting the police station or over telephone will order person’s arrest if he is convinced with proof and evidence collected by the investigating officer. After that an entry will be made in the daily diary regarding arrest and the person will be arrested with due procedure of law. Arrest memo in the prescribed format would be filled in certain cases like murder, kidnapping, robbery, dacoity, rape, snatching, theft, burglary, NDPS, etc.

(http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070905/aplus1.htm#2)

Guidelines in the DK Basu case

In the para 36 of the judgment in the petition D.K. BASU v State of West Bengal given by the Honourable Supreme Court of India the following safeguards are available for the citizens to avoid indiscriminate arrest:

(1) The police personnel carrying out the arrest and handling the interrogation of the arrestee should bear accurate, visible and clear identification and name tags with their designations. The particulars of all such police personnel who handle interrogation of the arrestee insist be recorded in a register.

(2) That the police officer carrying out the arrest of the arrestee shall prepare a memo of arrest at the time of arrest and such memo shall be attested by atleast one witness, who may be either a member of the family of the arrestee or a respectable person of the locality from where the arrest is made. It shall also be counter signed by the arrestee and shall contain the time and date of arrest.

(3) A person who has been arrested or detained and is being held in custody in a police station or interrogation centre or other lock-up, shall be entitled to have one friend or relative or other person known to him or having interest in his welfare being informed, as soon as practicable, that he has been arrested and is being detained at the particular place, unless the attesting witness of the memo of arrest is himself such a friend or a relative of the arrestee.

(4) The time, place of arrest and venue of custody of an arrestee must be notified by the police where the next friend or relative of the arrestee lives outside the district or town through the Legal Aid Organisation in the District and the police station of the area concerned telegraphically within a period of 8 to 12 hours after the arrest.

(5) The person arrested must be made aware of this right to have someone informed of his arrest or detention as soon as he is put under arrest or is detained.

(6) An entry must be made in the diary at the place of detention regarding the arrest of the person which shall also disclose the name of the next friend of the person who has been informed of the arrest and the names and particulars of the police officials in whose custody the arrestee is.

(7) The arrestee should, where he so requests, be also examined at the time of his arrest and major and minor injuries, if any present on his/herbed, must be recorded at that time. The "Inspection Memo" must be signed both by the arrestee and the police officer effecting the arrest and its copy provided to the arrestee.

(8) The arrestee should be subjected to medical examination by a trained doctor every 48 hours during his detention in custody by a doctor on the panel of approved doctors appointed by Director, Health Services of the concerned State or Union Territory. Director, Health Services should prepare such a penal for all Tehsils and Districts as well.

(9) Copies of all the documents including the memo of arrest, referred to above, should be sent to the illaqa Magistrate for his record.

(10) The arrestee may be permitted to meet his lawyer during interrogation, though not throughout the interrogation.

(11) A police control room should be provided at all district and State Headquarters, where information regarding the arrest and the place of custody of the arrestee shall be communicated by the officer causing the arrest, within 12 hours of effecting the arrest and at the police control room it should bc displayed on conspicuous notice board.

Investigation wing separated from Law & order in Amritsar

Amritsar Police has separated investigation wing from the general law and order duty. This is going to improve the quality of investigation as well as will reduce stress level of the cops as they do not have to perform both kinds of the duties simultaneously.

Salient features of this project:
The detective wing in the police stations will be headed by an officer of the rank of Sub Inspector designated as Additional SHO(Detective). Investigation will be carried out by a team of officers in which one SI/ASI, one HC and one Constable will be included. Every police station has been given three to six teams of detective officers.
There will be separate room for the detective officers in the police stations. It is the duty of the detective officer to visit the scene of crime in case of occurrence of a cognizable offence. In other words they are responsible to visit at the place of occurrence without any delay. For this purpose, one of the detective officers will always be present in the police station along with supporting staff. Normally emergency duties will be performed in 2 shifts: 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM and 8.00 PM to 8.00 AM.

The detective officers will have sufficient number of investigation kits.
The detective officers will be imparted sufficient on the job training to deal with various cases.
Detective officer will make sure that all the registers related with crime have been properly maintained.

Detective officer will make sure that entry will be made everyday in the daily diary regarding full details of the persons confined in the police custody as well as in the judicial custody.
Every time fresh application will be given to the magistrate to extend remand of a person confined in the judicial custody as per need.
Detective officers will not be deployed for day to day law and order duties.

News: The Tribune

Spl investigation cells promise speedy justice

Our Correspondent

Amritsar, September 4

To help crime victims get speedy justice the district police has constituted separate investigation cells working especially to investigate in criminal cases reported at various city police stations. This was disclosed by city police chief Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh.

Kunwar said, “Investigation cells would be headed by a sub-inspector designated as additional SHO (detective), while probe would be carried out by a team consisting of sub-inspector or an assistant sub-inspector, one head constable and one constable.” All city police stations have been allotted three to six teams of detective officers. These detective officers would not do routine day-to-day law and order duties, he added.

Kunwar, who was instrumental in starting this practice during his tenure as SP (city) here several years ago, said investigations were a specialised task. He said it was difficult for the police to investigate the cases with normal day routine of maintaining law and order. Due to occupancy with routine work many times the investigations take longer period ultimately benefiting the perpetrators of crime.Giving details about the work of investigation cells, Kunwar said, “These detective wings have been set up in every police station as well as in the CIA staff. The wings would be provided with separate rooms, besides investigation kits for conducting investigations.”

The Supreme Court had already given directions to the police administration to establish cells in every police station of India so that speedy justice could be provided.

The SSP said it would be essential for detective officer to visit crime site without delay. In case of a cognizable offence, the detective officers would always be present in the police station along with supporting staff. Emergency duties will be performed in two shifts, he added.

He said it would be mandatory for detective officers to maintain registers related with crime and entry would be made everyday in the daily diary regarding full details of the persons confined in the police custody as well as in the judicial custody.

(http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070905/aplus1.htm#2)

Yoga as stressbuster for cops

One week Yoga camp was concluded today in the Police Lines Amritsar, where more than 300 police officers of various ranks right from Constable to SSP participated. Amritsar Police in collaboration with Amritsar Chapter of Patanjali Yog Vidyapeeth Hardwar(founded by Swami Ramdev) has organized this camp for the benefit of the police officers.

The idea behind this camp is mental and physical development of the officers as well as to change their mindset to deal with the common people. It is going to change the work culture of the police towards commoners as well as to improve police public relations.

Besides this, 20 police officers have been selected for advanced Yoga Course so that they can be trained as Yoga Teachers. Amritsar Police is going to include yoga in the daily routine of the police officers. Every morning, the police stations and other units will have yoga classes in future.

District Coordinator of Patanjali Yog Vidyapeeth Subhash Suman and Awan Parashar along with other yoga teachers were prominent to make this camp successful. SP Kewal Kumar, Kaustubh Sharma, DSP Shailender Singh, Lakhbir Singh, Manjit Singh and SHOs of various Police Stations alongwith their subordinates participated in the camp. Vijay Pratap Singh, SSP of Amritsar is also well versed in yoga having Diploma in this discipline.

News: The Times of India

Yoga as stressbuster for cops

21 Aug 2007, 0226 hrs IST,Yudhvir Rana,TNN

AMRITSAR: Police here have taken the yoga route to overcome stress, fatigue and obesity, with an aim to increase their efficiency in bringing down the crime graph and for better police-public relations. About 500 policemen, of all ranks, participate in the yoga workshop held every Monday at police lines.

“By practising yoga, we have observed 30% improvement in physical and mental fitness of jawans and it is an encouraging figure,” said Surjit Singh, SP, headquarter, on Monday. Surjit is assigned to implement yogic fitness programme, the brainchild of SSP Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh.

He said law enforcement was a tough job. Long working hours and work overload cause fatigue and stress that gets reflected in the behaviour of jawans, Surjit said.

He added that with yoga they have been successful in de-stressing the jawans as well as the officers. Symptoms of stress and fatigue include behavioural change, drowsiness during duty, inability to stand upright, irritation and misbehaviour, he said.

The SP said about 20% policemen were obese and yoga along with routine exercises and parade have helped them to reduce weight and be physically fit.
He said district police had especially sent head constable Baldev Singh to Patanjali Yog Peeth, Haridwar, for yoga training. Now, he imparts yoga training to policemen, so that they could also practice it at home with their families.

He said apart from normal stresses, the long working hours affects policemen and for this yoga has proved to be the best cure.

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Yoga_as_stressbuster_for_cops/articleshow/2296484.cms)

Free registration of FIR

Amritsar Police has adopted the policy of free and genuine registrations of FIRs for the convenience of the general public. Burking of crime as well as tagging of a number of incidents particularly theft incidents in a single FIR has been strictly prohibited. Earlier, there were complaints from the general public that FIRs were not registered freely and common public had to face difficulties to claim insurance because their names did not appear in the FIR.

How can get an FIR registered

It is very easy to lodge an FIR. One can choose any of the following methods to lodge an FIR:

1. You can visit the Police Stations and lodge your complaints to the PROs. You can give written or oral report; in any case the PRO will register the FIR. You can get a copy of the FIR free of cost.
2. You can send your complaint through E-mail on the ID -- “policehelp100@gmail.com”. Your FIR will be registered and you can get a scanned copy of the FIR or gist of the FIR.
3. You can drop your complaints in the complaint boxes installed at various places in Amritsar.
4. Your FIR can be registered on telephone in exceptional cases. You can dial ‘100’ number at the Police Control Room or the concerned police Station. We have recently lodged a number of FIRs on telephonic information.

News: The Tribune

Now, lodge FIR online

Cops go hi-tech, tie up with hotels to stem crime

Our Correspondent

Amritsar, July 10

The city police is going hi-tech. In a major step, initiated to provide more convenience to residents, it has unveiled a new facility which allows registration of complaints online. SSP Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said the people now need not visit police station for lodging FIRs. Stating that the new facility is being lapped up by the residents, the SSP said, “In the last 10 days, we have received more than 20 FIRs. It helps save precious time, both that of authorities and citizens.” The district police chief was addressing a meeting of Amritsar hotel and restaurant association here.

The district police conducted late night raids on all the major hotels to identify the anti-social elements and foreigners. The officer said the surprise check was to ensure that hotels were following the guidelines wherein it’s mandatory for them to pass on the information regarding their guests, especially foreigners, to the nearest police station.

It has come to our notice many Pakistanis are coming here in the garb of travel agents and officials offering youths jobs abroad. The meeting was attended by a large number of representatives of hoteliers, including association’s chairman Bhupinder Singh.

((http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070711/aplus.htm)

Crime Stoppers for round the clock surveillance

Amritsar police has set up Crime Stoppers to ensure 24 hours 7day surveillance in the city to provide a sense of security to the citizens. More than 200 hundred officers of various ranks have been deputed for the purpose after imparting them special training and aptitude.

The purpose of setting up this cell is to prevent snatching, abduction, robbery, eve-teasing and other similar crimes. Equipped with latest technologies, the crime stoppers have been given specific beats to cover. They work in three shifts and can be seen on gypsies and motorcycles at strategic points in the city. They have been able to minimize the incidents of chain snatching; eve teasing etc. to a considerable extent after the system has been put in place.

News Item: The Tribune

Stemming The Tide

Snatchers beware! Crime stoppers are here

Vibhor Mohan

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 25

Just the way one finds ready-to-help police control room (PCR) gypsys and bikes at almost every roundabout in Chandigarh, the Amritsar police has set up a team of “Crime Stoppers” to ensure round-the-clock surveillance in the city to provide greater sense of security to the general public.

SSP Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh said more than 200 police personnel of different ranks had been deputed for the purpose after imparting them special training. “The objective behind setting up the cell is to prevent snatching, abduction, robbery, eve-teasing and other similar crimes. Equipped with latest technologies, the Crime Stoppers have been given specific beats to cover,” he said.

They worked in three shifts and could be seen on Gypsies and motorcycles at strategic points in the city. The initiative to launch the special surveillance under the name Crime Stoppers was taken following growing incidents of chain snatching and eve-teasing in the city. The Crime Stoppers also kept a watch on the smooth flow of traffic and make sure there was no violation.

Besides, telephone connectivity at all police stations had been restored and vacant posts under the Amritsar police district had been filled. Telephone lines, which were lying non-functional for long, had been reactivated for the benefit and easy accessibility to general public.

In addition, the functioning of the police control room had been streamlined to make it receptive, responsive and effective so that it ultimately became public-friendly.

“The introduction of mobile vans, motorcycles for round-the-clock surveillance has been made possible under the banner Crime Stoppers. Members of the team have been deployed at strategic points and sensitive locations. The graph of incidents of chain snatching and eve-teasing has shown a remarkable drop after the system has been put in place,” he said.

“In addition to all these efforts, public is free to call me up personally on my cell number in case of an emergency,” he said.

“All these efforts are aimed at bringing people closer to the police and they have started growing a feeling of confidence and it has led to social security at large. Free communication is a big boon to effective policing. The police in the service of public is the mantra of the Amritsar police,” he said.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070926/aplus1.htm#4

COP: Complaint Boxes

In its endeavor to make direct contact with the common people, Amritsar Police has installed Complaint-cum-Suggestion Boxes at various places of Public importance. The keys of the boxes remain with the SSP himself and he personally opens the boxes once in a week. The objective behind this is to obtain feedback and suggestions from the public regarding the general crime as well as police working in the district.

We are getting constant and regular suggestions regarding police working besides valuable inputs regarding organized crime especially related with drugs and corrupt practices in the society. It is also an easy way to lodge complaints of any kind in which police can do something.This effort has bolstered the public confidence and direct access has enabled them in mitigating their sufferings.

It is general appeal from the common people to give proper identity if you want to lodge any complaint however identity is not required if you want to give any suggestion or any secret information. Any way the identity of the informer is kept secret.

You can also use E-mail for this purpose. The ID is policehelp100@gmail.com.
The SSP himself operates this e-mail.

The boxes are located at the following points:

1. SSP Office
2. PS Civil Lines
3. Ranjit Avenue A Block Market( Near Dainik Jagran)
4. Police Lines Main Gate
5. Rattan Singh Chowk
6. Lawrence Road: Tree BBK DAV College
7. Railway Station: SGPC Information centre
8. Company Bagh main gate
9. GND Hospital: Main gate right side
10. GNDU: Near Main Sentry gate
11. Chehartta Chowk
12. Haripura, Islamabad
13. Vijaynagar : Near OBC
14. Airport( VIP Parking)
15. green Avenue
16. Hall gate
17. Town hall
18. Golden temple(Police Check post)
19. PS B Division/SW Gate
20. Gurdawara Shaheedan/ Chattiwind Gate
21. Atta Mandi Chowk
22. Shaktinagar Chowk
23. Gate Hakima(near Gate opposite Police Post)
24. Durgiana Mandir(Near main gate)
25. Bus Stand
26. Maqboolpura
27. Jandiala (at three locations)

News Item
The Tribune, August 8, 2007)
(http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070908/aplus.htm)

Curbing Crime
Out-of-box thinking helps cops
Vibhor Mohan
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 7
“Respected SSP saab, a group of drug peddlers wanted by the police are moving around freely in the Sultanwind area. They can be arrested from the following address…”

This is one of the letters posted by city residents in the complaint box put up at different public places. A brain-child of SSP Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, the ideas has come up as a strong medium to report secretly about crime.

Talking to The Tribune, Kunwar said, “Thanks to the people. We have been able to achieve major breakthroughs due to secret information by the responsible citizens. The information has helped us in arresting accused wanted for drug peddling for the past few months.” The recent seizure of drugs on Sultanwind Road, Maqboolpura and the arrest of family of an accused Sukhi, are outcomes of public feedback only, he added.

Besides complaints, department also receives interesting suggestions. “For instance, a gentleman suggested that women should wear necklaces made of “tulsi”, instead of gold. It would keep them healthy and chain snatchers at bay,” recalled the SSP.

Giving another example, the SSP said, “Disturbed by the fact that kids of policemen roam around, with no purpose after school, one of the staffers shot off a letter to me suggesting setting up of a library in the residential area for these kids.” “Similarly, department gets many valuable suggestions and we’ll try to implement them. Many letters pertain to traffic congestion in the city and people write in suggestions about their areas on how to create more parking spaces,” he added.

Revealing about the activity, the SSP said, “Instead of putting up complaint boxes outside the police stations, they have been put up at public places. On an average we get 15-20 letters every third day from boxes outside Hall Gate, Town Hall and Ram Bagh.” The keys of the boxes are with me and I personally read every letter, added Kunwar.

Letters are categorised as - tip offs, suggestions and grievances. The grievances include complaints about land disputes and personal problems. These are passed on to the police station concerned. Giving an example, the SSP said he received a letter from the owner of a popular restaurant in the city. He had requested him to withdraw orders of declaring premises around his restaurand as no-parking zone, because it had resulted in loss of business. Asked about the percentage of junk mail, the SSP said only 10 per cent of total received mails was junk. “It has never happened that information through letters turn out to be false. Most tip-offs are by anonymous writers and some even call after the job is done,” the SSP added.

Even disgruntled cops contact the police chief through the complaint boxes. In one such complaint a staffer informed about a corrupt head constable and urged the SSP to frisk him any day after duty hours where he could be caught red-handed.

Public Relations Officers (PRO) to improve Police-Public relations

Amritsar Police has introduced PRO system in the Police Stations to create cordial relation between the police and the community. Women Police Officers have been deputed in the Police Stations to ensure better police accountability. PROs are responsible for attending the public at the Police Stations. They have been given power to register FIRs and to listen the grievances of the public.

People coming to the Police Stations were normally attended by the Munshi(MHC) and even genuine complaints of common people were not dealt with properly. Most of the cases remained unattended due to unfriendly behaviour of the Munshi with the common people.

Aims and objectives:
To work as a bridge between the Police and the Community
To create cordial relations with the public
To ensure Proper Public dealing
To make police more accountable for the redressal of grievances of common people
To ensure better coordination between Police and Public


Training: The officers posted in the PRO wing have been imparted special training so that they can deal with the common people properly. They have also been given one week training in stress management, public dealing and Yoga organized by Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan SL Public School from April 24 to April 30, 2007 through Maharshi Patanjali Foundation Bombay.

Duties and responsibilities:
· To attend the grievances of public in the Police Station.
· Internal administration of the PS
· To attend wireless and telephonic messages
· To maintain Register No. 1(FIR) and Rojnamcha of the Police Station
· To register FIR and entrust the investigation to detective officers
· To receive the complaints of the public and mark the same to the concerned officers
· All details about the area eg. Population, minority problems, sensitive places and points
· Co-ordination between other wings of the PS

Rotary Club Civil Lines has adopted Police Station Civil Lines to assist the PROs to bring improvements in the overall functioning of this Police Station.

Community Oriented Policing in Amritsar

C= Community
O= Oriented
P= Policing

COP stands for Community Oriented Policing

[Respect for Law abiding citizens and strict action against law breakers]

In its endeavor to bridge the gap between Police and Public, Amritsar Police has launched Community Oriented Policing to provide better services to the common people. In order to streamline the grievance redressal system, PROs (Public Relations Officers) have been posted in each Police Station headed by women police officers. The PROs are working as Community Police Officers. People coming to the Police Station can lodge their grievances with the PRO. The system has received very good response from the common public. Basically, this has wiped out British model of Munshi system and Daroga system from the policing at the root level.

Telephone connectivity in Police Stations have been restored which had been lying defunct for year. Synchronization of public calls has been carried out in the Police Control Room and the effective call response mechanism has been put in place. Accessibility to Police Control Room from Mobile Numbers of BSNL and Spice has been put in place. Additional Numbers have been made available for the Police Control Room for the subscribers of other telephone and mobile providers. All these efforts have brought in tremendous response from the general public and more and more calls are being attended to resolve the complaints and lodging of FIRs where required.

To enable the general public to have a direct access to the District Police Chief, Complaint Boxes have been put up at 30 important locations, where in any one is free to lodge the complaint or provide information to the SSP, Amritsar. The boxes are opened under the personal supervision of the SSP and are thoroughly scrutinized and necessary action is taken as per the requirements. This effort has bolstered the public confidence and direct access has enabled them in mitigating their sufferings.

Amritsar Police has also taken a lead in registering FIRs on telephone and through E-Mails. Complaints may be lodged by sending particulars at the policehelp100@gmail.com. The facility extended has brought many instances, where in the complainants who hesitate to visit Police Stations in person have lodged their complaints directly and cases are being registered after verification the contents.

Introduction of Mobile Vans, Motor Cycles for round the clock surveillance has been given a big thrust under the banner “CRIME STOPPERS”, which have been deployed at strategic points and sensitive locations. The graph of incidents of chain snatching, eve teasing etc. has shown a remarkable drop after the system has been put in place.

In addition to all these efforts, public is free to call personally the SSP, Amritsar on his personal cell number in case of an emergency.

All these efforts have brought the public closer to the Police and they have started growing a feeling of confidence and it has led to social security at large. Free Communication is a big boon to effective policing. Police in the service of Public is the mantra of Amritsar Police.

Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh takes charge as SSP Amritsar

Amritsar, April 18, 2007

Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, an IPS officer of 1998 batch of Punjab cadre, has taken over as District Police Chief of Amritsar. He assumed the charge of Senior Superintendent of Police Amritsar on April 18, 2007. Before this he was posted as SSP of Gurdaspur District having additional charge of Batala Police District. His earlier stints in the holy city are Assistant Superintendent of Police (1999-2000), SP City (2002-03) and DIG Prisons (2005-06). Kunwar has distinction to begin his career in Punjab Police from this holy city in 1999 as a trainee IPS Officer.

Right from the first day of his joining, Community Oriented Policing (COP) was launched in the city with a view to create an atmosphere to maintain peace and order in the society and to provide a sense of security to the citizens. His areas of priority are prevention of crime, accessibility for the common citizen, to eliminate the menace of drug and to promote brotherhood in the citizens of Amritsar.