Director General and Inspector General of Police Lalrokhuma Pachuau has instructed IGPs, SPs and Police Commissioners not to depute constables alone on night rounds as they are an easy target for assault. He instructed them that teams of at least two personnel with lathis or firearms should be sent for night rounds.
In a communication issued on June 16, a copy of which is available with Express, Pachuau said that on at least three occasions in the past one month, policemen, while on night rounds alone in Bangalore, were assaulted. We should examine whether sending a policemen alone on night rounds due to shortage of staff should be continued he said.
Referring to Bangalore, Pachuau said that apart from Hoysala mobile patrolling, there are ‘Cheetah’ motorcycle patrols. Though the number of ‘Cheetahs’ are not enough to cover large areas of the city, henceforth it should be ensured that a lone constable is not sent on night rounds, he said.
'Stop extortion'
Pachuau instructed that the officer in charge of a police station must ensure that the policemen on night rounds do not consume alcohol. It has been reported that in Bangalore, some traffic policemen and officers on enforcement duty, misbehave and manhandle drivers during checking and demand money in excess for violation of traffic rules. Pachuau said that severe action should be taken against officers indulging in extortion.