Haryana cops to patrol rural areas

Under fire for failing to stop rape and growing criminal acts, Haryana Police has told its officers to daily visit villages and slums in four crime-hit districts and win confidence of people living in poorer and crime-prone areas.

Deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) and station house officers (SHOs) have been told to visit at least four to six villages in their areas daily and motivate people to help prevent crime. DSPs and SHOs in towns and cities too have been ordered to go to five slums every day and connect with the residents.

The Haryana inspector general of police (IGP) has sent out a communiqué on this to police chiefs in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat and Panipat districts. “The move aims at checking crime through public support,” said IGP Alok Mittal.

“DSPs and SHOs now have to get in touch with the public to encourage them to lend a helping hand to the police to prevent crime,” he said. They would ask the people to tell them about any brewing dispute or enmity on time, he said.

Since September, 12 cases of rape and gang rape have been reported in the state. But Haryana’s director general of police says the crime graph has gone down. “It is misleading to say that crime is increasing in Haryana,” DGP Ranjiv Dalal told IANS. “Compared to last year, it has gone down. The number of rape cases is less than last year,” he said.