Citizens want more cops on city roads

PUNE: Several citizens' groups have demanded increased police patrolling, especially in the fringe areas, to curb the rising cases of robberies in the city.
(Retd) Lieutenant Colonel Ashok Thombre, a resident of Baner and member of the Baner Citizens' Forum, highlighted the need for a police station in his area. "It has been over a decade and the citizens' forum is still fighting for a police station in Baner area," he said, adding that the presence of a police station becomes all the more imperative considering the rising construction activity in the area which has resulted in a huge influx of migrant labourers here.
He said there are many places which were completely deserted after dark and no police presence in sight has led to complete lawlessness here.
Sumita Kale, member of the Deccan Gymkhana Parisar Samiti, pointed out absence of proactive measures on the part of the city police. She said: "We see patrolling happening only after an incident has occurred." Policemen should be making regular rounds in all areas and should avoid standing at fixed spots," she suggested.
Amidst the blame game, which usually follows after any untoward incident, the representatives of the Hinjewadi Industries Association (HIA) along with the Hinjewadi police station have started awareness sessions since past two months. As part of the drive, employees of the companies, who are members of the HIA, are given safety instructions like not to venture out alone, not wearing the ID cards outside office premises and avoiding lonely spots to keep the trouble at bay.
In another initiative, the citizens' committees in Kalyaninagar have made it a point to take preventive action by reporting suspicious or anti-social elements hanging around in their areas. Anu Agrawal, secretary of the Kalyaninagar Residents' Association, told TOI that the citizens promptly alerted police when they found that some anti-social elements were settling along the South Avenue area. "Even the citizens need to stay alert and report suspicious developments. Police have acted on our complaints," she said.
Vaishali Patkar, president of Aundh Vikas Mandal, said, "Police strength should be increased since the city is expanding at a fast pace." It is shocking to hear that the recent robbery in Bavdhan may have been pre-planned. More patrolling and stricter, immediate action against anti social elements can help curb such cases, she added.