Police stations to form WhatsApp groups for citizens

Nagpur: Citizens can now get information, instructions or interact with senior inspectors at the police station level through WhatsApp groups. The senior inspectors, who were distributed tabs and smartphones by Guardian minister Chandrashekar Bawankule at police commissionerate on Saturday, are expected to form separate WhatsApp groups for women, senior citizens and various committees. Bawankule said digitization of policing will ensure better prevention, detection and conviction rate. “This will help in better communication between the commissionerate and police station level officers and public,” he said. Bawankule, relaying chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s message, said the city police chief SP Yadav and his team have brought down crime in the city as compared to last year. Bawankule further said that he would try to ensure government telecom companies provide free broadband to police and other security agencies for operating internet,” he said. Addl CP Shrikant Tarwade said the gadgets would help cops in facilitating communications among the officers, right from commissionerate to police stations, along with other units. “The gadgets can be used for recording statements of the witnesses, complainants and other key persons in the case, apart from capturing videos and photographs of the crime and its spots,” he said. “The gadgets would help in collecting evidences,” said the guardian minister. DCP Deepali Masirkar, Headquarters and Economic Offence Wing (EOW), said the distribution the gadgets was CP Yadav’s initiative which was supported by Joint CP Rajvardhan and Addl CP Tarwade. “Cops should put these gadgets to utmost use to improve communication with citizens, groups and colleagues in the department,” said Masirkar. Masirkar said that now notices, circulars and other information can be digitally shared easily. “City police already have a robust social networking wing with youngsters participating in large numbers. Tools like WhatsApp can now be put to even better use,” she said. Kamptee, Hingna police stations to be added to city Guardian minister Chandrashekar Bawankule on Saturday said that two rural police stations at Kamptee and Hingna would be soon included in the police commissionerate. Bawankule, who distributed tabs and mobile phones to senior inspectors at city police chief’s office, said chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will perform bhoomipuja for projects like expansion of the commissionerate, construction and revamping of police quarters and police stations on June 15. Regarding the ongoing helmet drive in the city, Bawankule said citizens have started using the safety headgear and they should continue with it. He also said that police stations of Besa-Beltarodi and Manish Nagar have been sanctioned along with manpower. “Actions would be initiated against officers avoiding postings in the region,” said the guarding minister adding that he will summon a meeting of VCA and rural police over the issue of payments due from the cricket association.