‘Police stations are meant to ensure safety; not create fear’

DIG V. Balakrishnan urges students to get close with dept.

DIG V. Balakrishnan along with winners of the competition in Tiruchi on Sunday.

“Some people are of the opinion that fear of police keeps crime rates low. My belief is on the contrary. For me, children from a young age need to work hand-in-hand with the police department. Fear will not help in any way,” according to V. Balakrishnan, DIG Tiruchi range.

He was addressing students on Sunday after handing out prizes to winners of the model police station competition.

The office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tiruchi Range, announced a model police station competition on September 3, inviting youngsters between 10 and 23 years of age to submit models of their visualisation of police stations.

The first prize carried a cash award of ₹5,000 for junior (between 10 and 16) and senior (17 and 21) categories.

The initiative, the brainchild of Shweta Balakrishnan, the DIG's wife, was aimed at nurturing the creativity of children and youngsters apart from encouraging them to visit police stations to come up with the 3D models.

“The models will serve another purpose. After the competition is over, they will be kept in 12 all-women police stations in Tiruchi range, which have special playroom for children. The children, by looking at the models, will understand that police stations are meant to ensure safety and not create fear,” Mr. Balakrishnan said.

Raghavan Sampathkumar, Director, CropLife Asia, sponsored the prizes for all winners and applauded the DIG office for taking an active effort in teaching and encouraging children.

A total of 157 entries were registered, with 26 models in the senior and 131 in the junior categories.

The first place was secured by R. Parasuram of Government Higher Secondary School Vengalam, Perambalur.

M. Harini, M. Hema and M. Yeshwanth of Jegan Matha Matric Higher Secondary School, Tiruchi, won the second place. D. Monica of The Little Flower Matriculation School, Thanjavur, bagged the third prize.

E. Ziyarudeen and E. Azyizudeen of St. James Matriculation Higher Secondary School bagged the first place in the senior category.

A. Ibraam, M Vikas and V. Arun Kumar of Mount Zion College of Engineering and Technology, Pudukottai, came second.