HYDERABAD: In a first-of-its-kind in the country, every village in Telangana will have a Village Police Officer (VPO) to maintain law and order situations.
In a pilot project, the police department has decided to introduce policing at the grassroots level through VPOs in order to take care of crime related issues. Another aspect of the idea is to strengthen community policing.
Akun Sabharwal, deputy inspector general (DIG)-Hyderabad Range, said around 4,137 Gram Panchayats spread across 12 districts of Telangana State will now have VPOs to look after law maintenance and prevention of crime in the villages. An office consisting a table, chair along with the name plate of police officer along with his mobile number have been set up at the panchayat offices in these revenue villages.
The Village Police Officer, a police personnel of the rank of police constable, head constable or assistant sub inspector will be present in the office at least three days in a week.
Explaining the benefits of the concept, the DIG said, earlier for even petty issues people, especially from rural villages, had to travel to the mandal headquarters to lodge a complaint at the police station. With the VPO being available at the village itself, the access to police would be easier for everyone irrespective of socio-economic status.
“As the police men/women will be stationed at the village itself, various aspects of policing will be improve directly. The image of an ill-mannered cop will be replaced once people start meeting the constable/head constable over regular period of time. In the present system, the centre of the policing system is the Station House Officer with constables and head constables assisting him. Now, each constable will have their own jurisdiction and this would give respect to them,’’ Akun Sabharwal said.
To ensure that the system works properly, the SI would, at regular intervals, interact and take feedback on functioning of the VPOs. In the present state, a large number of people have access to mobile phones. With the reorganisation of districts, the Superintendent of Police are easily available to public.