WE THE PEOPLE
Nocturnal thefts have given rise to sense of insecurity among large sections of society in Kashmir
Hence people urge DGP J&K to get night patrolling by Police intensified to curb burglary, ensure safety and security to them
By: Aleesa Shah
Srinagar: In a well-managed State, it is expected that all wings of administration work in unison and have harmonious relationship. Such a State can be compared to a Powerhouse, where any defect in the system is detected instantly and corrective measures adopted to rectify the fault. In such a system, accountability, punctuality and responsiveness become the hallmarks, which goad the officials to discharge their obligations with high sense of dedication and devotion. No room is left for any complaint whatsoever and as such sense of safety and security become the dominating features of the system.
But when the system is imperfect and ridden with corruption and indifference, the results can be disastrous. In such a situation, the administrators turn recalcitrant and lack accountability, thus giving rise to irresponsive administration. Thus people are put at the receiving end, with no one to mitigate their sufferings. They writhe in pain, with no one to give him or her a healing touch. This is the situation with which most of the people in Kashmir Valley are confronted with today. There are complaints of nocturnal thefts being committed in several segments of the valley, which have made lives of people totally unsafe and insecure. The burglars strike at their targets with impunity with no one to haul them up. It is alleged that police personnel do not exercise vigil during night hours, which has exposed people to the onslaughts of burglars and frequent thefts of high order. Their uproar and protests over the burglaries stand lost in the din as no police force has allegedly come out either to locate and catch the culprits or intensify night patrolling, especially in the affected areas so far. It is felt that most of the Police Stations, located in different parts of the valley, have abandoned practice of nocturnal-patrolling to provide safety and security to people living in those areas. This has given a free hand to burglars to break into any house and commit robbery. This is evidenced by scores of thefts committed by robbers in Jawahar Nagar, Fateh Kadal, Hyderpora Byepass, Rawalpora and Residency Road areas in the recent past.
“In our olden days, Police personnel stationed in respective Police Stations used to exercise complete vigil by undertaking extensive patrolling of their jurisdiction during night hours, which could keep burglars at bay and restore confidence of people in the police force. Even shopkeepers would hardly engage Chowkidars for watch and ward of their shops as they used to remain satisfied with the surveillance of the Custodians of Law. As a matter of fact, Police Stations located in different zones of the valley are responsible for safety and security of people living in their particular area. It is not only booking the gamblers or offenders for minor crimes by the police personnel but they are supposed to keep lives of people and their property safe. The Police Manual is very clear about the duties of police personnel and guidelines are laid down for dealing with different crimes. Besides they are governed guided by the law of the land. It is only question of adherence to the rules and putting law into practice. No committal of crime of any nature is possible if police personnel perform their duties according to their conscience,” said a group of elderly persons of Kashmir Valley.
It is, therefore, high time that the Director General of Police issues directives to all officers manning Police Stations in Kashmir Valley to intensify night patrolling in their respective jurisdictions, especially human habitations to control thefts and instill confidence among the people of the state. The people should develop faith in custodians of law, which is possible only if police personnel rise to the clarion call and perform their professional obligations to the best of their capacities and capabilities. The police personnel must follow their Blue Book and other guidelines strictly to run their writ in the valley. Once done, there will be no room left for criminals to execute their ugly plans and those too with impunity!Srinagar: In a well-managed State, it is expected that all wings of administration work in unison and have harmonious relationship. Such a State can be compared to a Powerhouse, where any defect in the system is detected instantly and corrective measures adopted to rectify the fault. In such a system, accountability, punctuality and responsiveness become the hallmarks, which goad the officials to discharge their obligations with high sense of dedication and devotion. No room is left for any complaint whatsoever and as such sense of safety and security become the dominating features of the system.
But when the system is imperfect and ridden with corruption and indifference, the results can be disastrous. In such a situation, the administrators turn recalcitrant and lack accountability, thus giving rise to irresponsive administration. Thus people are put at the receiving end, with no one to mitigate their sufferings. They writhe in pain, with no one to give him or her a healing touch. This is the situation with which most of the people in Kashmir Valley are confronted with today. There are complaints of nocturnal thefts being committed in several segments of the valley, which have made lives of people totally unsafe and insecure. The burglars strike at their targets with impunity with no one to haul them up. It is alleged that police personnel do not exercise vigil during night hours, which has exposed people to the onslaughts of burglars and frequent thefts of high order. Their uproar and protests over the burglaries stand lost in the din as no police force has allegedly come out either to locate and catch the culprits or intensify night patrolling, especially in the affected areas so far. It is felt that most of the Police Stations, located in different parts of the valley, have abandoned practice of nocturnal-patrolling to provide safety and security to people living in those areas. This has given a free hand to burglars to break into any house and commit robbery. This is evidenced by scores of thefts committed by robbers in Jawahar Nagar, Fateh Kadal, Hyderpora Byepass, Rawalpora and Residency Road areas in the recent past.
“In our olden days, Police personnel stationed in respective Police Stations used to exercise complete vigil by undertaking extensive patrolling of their jurisdiction during night hours, which could keep burglars at bay and restore confidence of people in the police force. Even shopkeepers would hardly engage Chowkidars for watch and ward of their shops as they used to remain satisfied with the surveillance of the Custodians of Law. As a matter of fact, Police Stations located in different zones of the valley are responsible for safety and security of people living in their particular area. It is not only booking the gamblers or offenders for minor crimes by the police personnel but they are supposed to keep lives of people and their property safe. The Police Manual is very clear about the duties of police personnel and guidelines are laid down for dealing with different crimes. Besides they are governed guided by the law of the land. It is only question of adherence to the rules and putting law into practice. No committal of crime of any nature is possible if police personnel perform their duties according to their conscience,” said a group of elderly persons of Kashmir Valley.
It is, therefore, high time that the Director General of Police issues directives to all officers manning Police Stations in Kashmir Valley to intensify night patrolling in their respective jurisdictions, especially human habitations to control thefts and instill confidence among the people of the state. The people should develop faith in custodians of law, which is possible only if police personnel rise to the clarion call and perform their professional obligations to the best of their capacities and capabilities. The police personnel must follow their Blue Book and other guidelines strictly to run their writ in the valley. Once done, there will be no room left for criminals to execute their ugly plans and those too with impunity!
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