Additional Director General of Police (North Zone) Rajesh Dewan has said that the crime rate in the district is showing a declining trend as the police have taken various measures to act against breach of law including incidents of political violence.
“The statistics shows a declining trend in all kinds of crimes in the district including cases of political violence,” Mr. Dewan told reporters here on Monday.
The ranking of the Valapattanam police station here as one of the top 10 police stations in the country manifested the overall downward trend in crimes in the district which is known for incidents of political clashes and murders. The district was doing exceedingly well as far as policing was concerned, he said.
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Mr. Dewan also said that the police in the politically sensitive district had been neutral in handling law and order situation. “As far as political violence is concerned we have been arresting across the board without favouring any political party,” he said.
In the last one year, there has not been a single case of political violence in which arrests were not made, though there were very few cases where the accused were absconding.
As 80% of crimes in the district happened in the night including arson, burning of party flags, attacks on party offices and individuals, the police had strengthened night patrolling. “We have put more manpower for night time policing now,” he said.
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The ADGP also said that the police were trying to reach out to community leaders and party leaders on ensuring maintenance of law order in connection with festivals and political events. “We talk to these leaders and solve issues behind the scenes,” he informed. Such strategies were working over the last one year, he added.
Political violence
Mr. Dewan denied that there was pressure on the police while handling incidents of political violence. To another query on the murder of an elderly woman at Cheemeni in Kasaragod last month, the ADGP said that it was a difficult case as the three people from other States involved in the crime looked like hardened criminals.
“The criminals are getting smarter and that shows that in future the police job will be more difficult,” he pointed out.
He stressed the need for inter-State policing co-operation. The police had taken up with the government a proposal for registration of migrant workers from other States because of security concerns. Mr. Dewan also said that banks should install CCTV cameras and security guards.
Inspector General of Police (Kannur Range) Mahipal Yadav and District Police Chief Siva Vikram G were also present. Mr. Dewan presented a memento to Valapattanam sub inspector Sreejith Koderi to felicitate him for his station being listed in the top-10 police stations in the country.