Troubleshooters to target mischief-mongers

LUCKNOW: The city police is making an effective use of community policing to keep the trouble-makers in check in wake of the Ayodhya title suit verdict, to be pronounced on Thursday. The police have decided to involve influential residents. Besides, troubleshooters at the police station level will be actively involved in patrolling the areas, along with the police party.These troubleshooters will also be used in the picket duty in order to ensure speedy identification of the troublemakers if they happened to be from the same area.
This in turn would help in quelling any ill designs engineered by troublemakers to disrupt communal harmony and peace in the area.
Leaving no stone unturned, the police in the state have made several strategies to ensure peace in wake of Ayodhya dispute verdict which would be delivered on September 30.
Learning from the past experiences, the police in the state this time has done extensive research at police station level to identify the troublemakers and troubleshooters. Troublemakers will be dealt with an iron hand as always, say the police.
Take for instance the state capital. The Lucknow police has appointed around 900 special police officers to help the civil police in case of any untoward incident. Over 1,500 troubleshooters have been identified at 37 police stations in Lucknow, while about 800 troublemakers have been identified.
Following which, the police are keeping a close watch on these troublemakers. Besides, troubleshooters have been requested to cooperate with the police by talking to the people of their respective areas to maintain peace and harmony.
On the judgment day, the police have decided to actively involve these troubleshooters in patrolling of the area. These troubleshooters would be utilised on shift basis, said DIG Rajeev Krishna.
Similarly, troublemakers are also being monitored closely. Stern action against any troublemaker found involved in any mischief would be taken, said the DIG.
At the police station level in Lucknow (west), the maximum number of 124 troubleshooters are from Chowk police station, situated in the Old City area. No wonder then that the number of troublemakers -- 59 -- is also the highest in the Old City. (see box)
The police stations throughout the state have been asked to hold meetings with influential persons, civil defence officials, ex-police and army men of their area and seek their cooperation. Directives have also been given to ensure that all the anti-riot equipment in the police stations are in proper shape. Citing an example, a police station in charge said that if a police station has say 100 cops, there should be availability of at least 50 body protector jackets in the police stations besides other anti-riot equipment. Orders have also been given to ensure that at least over a dozen cops are always present either in the police station or in barracks available with these stations.
Though paramilitary forces would be available in each district as per the requirement, the officials have been asked to utilise the resources available with them.