State police gear up for challenges of ‘Unlock 1’
LUCKNOW: Multiple challenges await the state police as economic, social and religious activities are set to resume in Uttar Pradesh under Unlock 1, according to state police officials.
The job on hand includes enforcing social distancing protocols at public places, curbing crime, and protecting police personnel from the coronavirus infection, the officials added.
A senior IPS official at the DGP headquarters said a detailed circular about the new challenges would be issued to all the district police chiefs.
He said director general police HC Awasthy had already issued guidelines on precautionary measures in view of an apprehended sudden spurt in crime with the resumption of economic activity. The official said the district police chiefs, including police commissioners, senior superintendents of police and superintendents of police, were asked to chalk out a plan specific to their districts and enforce it.
Lucknow commissioner of police (CP) Sujeet Pandey said, “We have to do effective policing while protecting police personnel from the coronavirus infection and maintain our new image of helping people during the lockdown.” “The police have the responsibility of enforcing social distancing and crowd control protocols at airports, railway, and bus stations. Visitors’ list will be prepared and they need to be quarantined according to the guidelines of the union health ministry in view of Covid-19,” he said.
“Besides, the police have the major challenge of preventing criminal activities as economic installations and market places become operational,” he said.
He said the new centralised beat policing system will be introduced in Lucknow city to ensure social distancing and allowing no public gathering. “On duty, police personnel face exposure to coronavirus infection . At least, 10 inspectors and 175 constables have been kept in isolation so that they are not infected. These reserve cops can replace those on duty if any police personnel gets infected,” he explained.