The first Janamaithri Kendram under the Community Policing Programme of the Kerala Police will be set up at the Fort police station in the city.
Addressing a monthly Janamaithri meeting of office-bearers of residents’ associations here on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) C.H. Nagaraju said Janamaithri Kendrams would also be set up at the Cantonment, Pettah and Medical College police stations. The proposed kendrams will be the nodal point of the Janamaithri programmes and road safety awareness schemes.
The Deputy Commissioner said steps would be taken to ensure that buses stopped at the designated stops and bus bays. The city police have procured decibel meters to prevent the misuse of loudspeakers during public functions and festivals.
The problems faced by road users near the Azad gate of Secretariat, GPO junction and encroachment by cobblers near Gandhi Park were among the issues raised at the meeting. The unwarranted presence of local guides near the houses of Male citizens in the vicinity of Medical College and the problems posed by migrant labourers also came up.
Following complaints that headload workers in Muttada were demanding exorbitant rates for shifting household materials, Mr. Nagaraju directed the police to register a case of extortion against them. He said such activities would not be tolerated. The meeting also discussed the absence of reflectors at bumps and illegal parking of vehicles near the Spencer Junction.
Replying to a remark made by an office-bearer that the media were publishing detailed stories on murder, other crimes and telecasting video footages from surveillance cameras, he said the investigating officers had been barred from talking to the Press. It was clarified that the photographs or sketches were provided to the media to assist in efforts to nab the accused as in the case of the recent burglary at Pettah. “The media carries out an investigation and it takes place parallel to our probe. It is good, as it is a check on the police,” he added.
The city police will look into the demand for a pre-paid autorickshaw stand at the Kochuveli railway terminal.
Officials of the KSEB, JICA and Kerala Road Fund Board attended the meeting. Assistant Commissioners of the four sub-divisions and two traffic sub-divisions, Circle Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors from the city police station limits took part.
