Police “Cycle Patrol Unit” getting fruits?

Pothashang News Service : Imphal, November 18, 2018: One would never imagine that Police could ever go out on patrol without taking any arms in a place like Manipur where seemingly every parts of the state are deeply infested by insurgents. However, the Kakching district police is leaving no stone unturned to build up a closer relationships with the people of the district.

After the successful launched of Police Cycle Patrol units on 5^th November – first of its kind in Manipur – Police personnel of various police stations under Kakching districts are pedalling 6 to 7 km every day, that too without any arms. The patrol units with a team of 5 police personnel divided into 12 units (with one unit in reserved), are reaching out to people 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday.

During the first phase of “Cycle Patrol Unit”, 60 cycles were provided to the police personnel and the remaining 60 will be provided by February, 2019 as told to Pothasang.in by SP Kakching, Yengkhom Victoria.

One of the members of these patrol units, on the condition of anonymity said that compare to earlier days people in the district have now become friendlier with the Police. He said that even though they are patrolling without any arms, there is no incident of attacks or intimidations to the units till now.

While on a patrol in a particular village, the team meet village chiefs, Pradhans, Meira Paibi leaders and Youth clubs leaders and listen to their problems, Thounaojam Bishwaskumar, Unit Team Leader of Langmeidong Post said. He said, the team visit different villages under their jurisdiction 5 days a week, i.e., from Monday to Friday, and further report their findings to their superiors for further necessary actions. As the patrolling teams are cycling without any arms, people have no apprehensions to approach police personnel which a great achievement of Cycle Patrol Units he added.

Ms. Yengkhom Victoria, SP Kakching district has said that the objective of Police “Cycle Patrol Unit” is to establish a better relationship between public and police. She said these patrol units are mainly addressing trivial local issues rather than focussing on larger crimes which need proper investigations.  There is no doubt that the patrol units will report serious crimes or incidences, but the main motive behind “Cycle patrol unit” is to bring people closer to police and to find out solutions for petty or trivial local issues, she said.