Will form a squad to solve pending cases: Police chief

Improving detection rate, reducing cybercrime priorities for Hemant Nagrale

Five days after taking charge, Hemant Nagrale, the new police commissioner of Navi Mumbai, revealed his action plan and the priorities for the satellite city.

Speaking to mediapersons at his Belapur office on Wednesday, he said that improving the detection rates, reducing cybercrimes, safety of women and senior citizens and curbing the menace of narcotics will be his priority.

“We are serious about the undetected cases in the city. We will soon start a squad to detect such crimes and arrest the culprits,” Nagrale said.

Files of all undetected murder cases of the past five years will be reopened.

“We will appoint some new officers to reinvestigate those cases. Similar actions will be taken on unclaimed and unidentified bodies. In 2016 alone, we have four murder cases which are yet to be detected,” he said.

He pointed out that crimes in Navi Mumbai have not increased in the past few years.

“However, we do not find a good picture when it comes to certain crimes such as vehicle theft, chain snatching, cheating among others. So we will have to devise a way so that we can bring such crimes under control and ensure safety of people of all ages,” he added.

According to Nagrale, Navi Mumbai had a very good detection rate last year which was over 60. However, he admitted that there it can be improved.

“The increasing cybercrimes is another matter of concern for us. First, we will have to find an efficient officer with required expertise to head our cyber cell. Then we will think about expanding the cell with more manpower and getting a new cyber lab with new equipment. I will also discuss with my officers what action we can take for reducing crimes against women and children,” he said.

Nagrale’s previous posting was additional director general and chief vigilance officer, Mhada.

“The city of Navi Mumbai is a big one and there are also several industrial towns in it. Constructions of new residential and commercial buildings are also going on in full swing. The pace of development will be accelerated with the coming of the international airport. So will have take action thinking about the changes that may come after a few years,” he added.

When asked about his stand on issuing new licences to ladies bars in the city, Nagrale said, “The Navi Mumbai police have not issued any licences of ladies bars recently. We will go by the rule book and follow the guidelines given by the state.”

Nagrale said that he would try to find out the reasons why the buildings of certain police stations have not been renovated and why constructions of new buildings have not been started even after allotment of the plots.

“I will also visit the coastal police stations and see if there is a need to improve the costal security system. If anyone finds any problem with us or want to share something, he or she can meet me in my office,” he added.

The increasing cybercrimes is another matter of concern for us. First, we will have to find an efficient officer with required expertise to head our cyber cell. Then we will think about expanding the cell with more manpower and getting a new cyber lab with new equipment. I will also visit the coastal police stations and see if there is a need to improve the costal security system. If anyone finds any problem with us or want to share something, he or she can meet me in my office. HEMANT NAGRALE, Navi Mumbai police commissioner

BACHCHAN KUMAR Police commissioner of Navi Mumbai Hemant Nagrale at a press conference on Wednesday.