DEDICATED POLICE STATION TO DEAL WITH WATER THEFTS IN HANUMANGARH

Hanumangarh is going to be the first district in Rajasthan to have a dedicated police station to address frequent cases of water pilferage.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who also heads the home department, has approved the proposal of setting up 12 new police stations across the state, including the special police station in Nohar tehsil of Hanumangarh district to guard canal water and curb crime related to water pilferage.

Inspector General (IG) of Police, Bikaner range, Prafull Kumar told HT: “It was a long time demand of irrigation department, public representatives and locals to adopt a permanent mechanism to curb increasing water pilferage incidences (a prevalent practice in the area) and other crimes related with it. The jurisdiction of this special police station will cover the area of five police stations falling in Bhadra and Nohar assembly constituencies.

According to the police data, the district police registered 74 cases of water pilferage during the past four years. Highest 28 cases were reported from the Bhirani police station area from January 2018 to February 2021.

Hanumangarh superintendent of police (SP) Priti Jain said that the anti-water theft station will soon be initiated, as the government has sanctioned the staff and financial provisions. “This dedicated police station will help people get their share in canal water,” she said.