Staff Reporter
Police Commissioner seeks more public participation in tackling crime during onam
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: City Police Commissioner Ravada A. Chandrasekhar has asked residents’ associations to strengthen the neighbourhood watch system during the Onam season to help the police prevent crime.
The Commissioner was participating in a ‘Maithri’ meeting held at the police camp at Nandavanam here on Satuday. In addition to the night patrolling activities organised by residents’ associations, ‘day watch’ programmes should be instituted, he said.
The haphazard parking of cars on bus bays, charging of excess fare by autorickshaw drivers and traffic congestion in parts of the city were among the main issues raised by the representatives of residents’ associations.
The representative of a residents’ association coming under the Museum police station pointed out that cars were being parked on bus bays on the Museum-Vazhuthacaud road. This caused bus drivers to stop in the middle of the road, he said.
A participant from Melarannoor raised the issue of excess fare being charged by auto drivers. “Very often auto drivers refuse to ply to a particular destination. If they do agree they ask for excess fare. If the police force them to take a passenger to some place they take out their anger on the passenger,” he explained. Deputy Commissioner of Police Vakkom Prabha pointed out that the police could only take action on the basis of a firm complaint. Action will be initiated against all auto drivers against whom such complaints are received, he added.
A participant from Poonthura listed the difficulties being faced by people in the coastal areas owing to the poor condition of the roads there. He wanted the police to sent a notice to the PWD seeking speedy action. Numerous speed breakers on the roads in the coastal areas are actually causing accidents, he claimed.
The representative of a residents’ association in Fort police station limits said volunteers with official identity tags should be posted for traffic control at Aryasala, Attakkulangara and Killippalam. A participant from Koonankulam narrated how police personnel from the Medical College police station acted swiftly two weeks ago to apprehend two persons who had parked auto rickshaws at the junction. “The two were most certainly planning a break-in,” he said.
The traffic congestion near the GG hospital was becoming worse by the day. Traffic police personnel should be posted there to ease the flow of traffic. Similar traffic problems are also being faced in front of the Cosmopolitan hospital, he added. A representative of the Snehapuri residents’ association near Edagramam told the meeting that a particular lorry owner was in the habit of parking earth movers and tipper lorries in the residential locality. The local sub-inspector told the Commissioner that the lorry owner was warned several times and that a report on the issue had been sent to the District Collector. “Give him a strict warning. If he does not listen to that seize the vehicles,” the Commissioner said.
Special arrangements need to be made at Thiruvallam on the occasion of ‘Vavu bali’ on Sunday, a participant from the Thiruvallam residents’ association said. Participants from Peroorkada and Ambalamukku repeatedly raised the issue of traffic congestion at these junctions and requested that additional personnel be deployed.
A participant from Sreekanteswaram requested the police to take action against workshops that have expanded their operations on to the road.
The Commissioner replied that the City Corporation, when it gives permission for such workshops, does not appear to have thought of such consequences.
In this case too Mr. Chandrasekhar directed the local sub-inspector to warn workshop owners and then seize vehicles if necessary. Deputy Commissioner Harshita Attalluri and Vakkom Prabha, Assistant Commissioners, Circle Inspectors and sub-inspectors participated in the meeting.