Tripura: State police starts community patrol to curb violence

AGARTALA, July 2, 2018: To further check the escalation of chilf-lifter scare and mob violence, Tripura police has started community engagements under the Prayaas initiative in villages and far-flung areas across the state, an official said.

On Sunday, Inspector-general of police (law and order) K.V. Sreejesh had told the media that all district police officials (superintendents of police) were asked to organize confidence-building measures in their area to sensitize people against rumour-mongering.

"We started community engagements ever since rumours started spreading about child-lifters," Sreejesh said.

He said community policing has proved to be a powerful instrument in enforcing process of law.

Prayaas is an initiative by Tripura police to forge a strong police-public partnership to improve delivery of law enforcement services to the community. It also involves awareness programmes to curb crimes and rumours.

On the community engagement move, the inspector-general of police said, "We have intensified the presence and movement of police and mobile patrolling is being done. We are trying to build up informal engagements."

As part of the move, officials and personnel are appealing to the people and those who keep in contact with the police at public places like small markets to stay wary of rumours and maintain peace.

Earlier on Thursday, the state government suspended Internet service for 48 hours in the wake of repeated mob lynchings in different districts of the state. The ban had been extended by 24 hours on Saturday.

However, mobile Internet services resumed across the state at 4.30pm on Sunday.

Following the murder of an 11-year-old child at Mohanpur on Tuesday, three persons were lynched by mobs in West Tripura, Sipahijala and South Tripura districts.

Source: The Telegraph

Featured image: Representation