21 Slum Kids Ace Boards, Lead The Change At City’s Crime Den

Nagpur: A bunch of students, who witnessed police raiding their neighbourhoods in Mahakali Nagar slums, were thrilled after seeing the same squads return on Wednesday to felicitate them for excelling in the state board Class 12 (HSC) and Class 10 (SSC) examinations.The cops had externed five top goons from the area and slapped MPDA on another couple of gangsters in the past. Once known as a crime hub, the area has produced 21 bright students, including two who scored over 80%, despite the adverse conditions.Mukesh Patel, whose father is a mason and mother a domestic help, was felicitated for scoring more than 82% in SSC exam. He had seen cops drag goons away from the area. Other SSC achievers inlcuded Chandani Shahu with 77%, and Chahat Gedam 68%.In HSC, Shruti Kamble (62%), Simran Mhatre (64%) and Aditya Bhagat (63%) were among those felicitated. CP Ravinder Singal led the police perssonnel when students like Mukesh were felicitated in the area located in Beltarodi police station limits. The locality witnessed gruesome murders, residents setting goons' houses afire, daily raids and assaults on policemen. Between 2020 and 2023, Mahakali Nagar saw a spike in property crimes, offences against women and other criminal activities.The turnaround came after sustained community policing, corner meetings, police-citizen interactions and citizen outreach. Senior inspector Mukund Kawade of Beltarodi police stationSenior inspector Mukund Kawade of Beltarodi police station said the programme was his experimentation with community policing leading to social transformation. "We motivated students with books and other educational facilities and so on. It took sustained community policing and preventive actions to create a conducive environment for education," said Kawade.Kawade organised the programme under guidance of CP, Zonal DCP Rashmita Rao and ACP Narendra Hiware (Ajni Division). CP Singal presented toppers from the area mementoes and certificates in the presence of around 400 parents and residents. Singal urged students to maintain discipline, consistency and positive thinking.