Cops clean up act, modernisation from March 1

This is one of the key plans of the modernisation of the forces, said Commissioner of Kolkata police Gautam Mohan Chakraborti today.

In the first phase, 10 police stations will have special investigative wing starting March 1. Later, it will be implemented at all police stations. Moreover, for the first time, night-time traffic will be manned, with traffic signals on an automatic mode. Regarding the two groups of forces, “30 per cent will be dedicated to investigation and another part will look after the law and order situation. There will be clear demarcation of their duties at the station level,” Chakraborty said. Apart from the Officer-in-charge of the police stations, Additional CP 1, Subrata Narayan Sarkar, and Joint CP (Administration), Pradip Kumar Chakraborty, will monitor and co-ordinate the whole thing, Chakraborty said.

Initially, this is being implemented in ten police stations — two in each of the five divisions on trial basis and then eventually it will be implemented in all the 48 police stations, Chakraborty added.

The police stations selected are Posta and Girish Park in Central division, Chetla and Charu Market in South division, West Port and Taratala in West division, Kashipur and Tala in North division and Topsia and Phulbagan in East Suburban division.

The Commissioner also added that since nearly one-third of the accidents happen at night, the traffic control system will be strengthened. “At present, we have started a trial on 50 crossings all over the city. Later, we will cover all 104 crossings. Owing to the shortage of staff, we will take the help of the police personnel on night duty at the kiosks and they will be under the concerned sergeant or inspector,” Chakraborty said.

The trial started yesterday and over 500 people were arrested. We have done it only at the major crossings of the city and the result is really frightening, Chakraborty added.