The State government is embarking on a plan to establish dedicated city police stations to maintain law and order in key areas across all major cities in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
Inaugurating the newly constructed building of the police station here on Monday, the Chief Minister pointed out that Ernakulam town had grown by leaps and bounds to become a mega city, and, hence, a city police station was the need of the hour. Besides establishing the stations, the government is considering posting high ranking police officers to manage them.
Pointing to the high incidence of goon activity in Kochi, Mr. Vijayan warned of stern action against police officers found colluding with anti-social elements.
He also urged police officers to enforce law without favouritism and asked them to desist from the practice of assaulting commoners. “The very concept of police assault is a colonialist notion and it holds no significance in a modern, democratic society,”said Mr. Vijayan.
He spoke about plans to install surveillance cameras along all major roads across the State, which would enable authorities to monitor activities inside moving vehicles. To set up the project, the police have been directed to identify major locations suitable for installing the cameras.
Speaking on the occasion, State Police Chief Loknath Behra said plans were afoot to open the Info city police station in Kakkanad at a cost of ₹2.5 crore. The station, with the best available systems to check the rising number of cybercrimes, is expected to be operational in eight months’ time.
Inspector General of Police (Kochi Range) P. Vijayan, City Police Commissioner M.P. Dinesh, Assistant Commissioner of Police K. Laljy and MLA Hibi Eden were among those present.
The new Ernakulam Town North police station is a four-storey building with a built-up area of 11,345 sq. ft. Besides the station, it also houses a multi-gym, a self-defence training centre for women and a yoga centre.
The Town North station had started functioning on April 7, 1954, two years before the formation of Kerala State.
