On day off, cops take up brooms to clean Baramulla

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 1

This morning when people woke up in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, they were up for a surprise. Several policemen in civvies, including senior-most officers of the district, armed with shovels and brooms were busy clearing garbage from streets and choked drains.

The cleanliness drive in the historical town was launched by the police in which 250 officers and jawans of the district police participated.

"The drive is aimed to create awareness among the people about the importance of keeping our surroundings clean," said Senior Superintendent of Police, Baramulla, Imtiyaz Hussain.

He said the endeavour of the Baramulla police would continue in coming days and hoped that the general public would also join in the effort to keep the town clean.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, north Kashmir, Uttam Chand and Baramulla Deputy Commissioner Yasha Mudgal also joined the drive.

Once a bustling town, Baramulla has been facing civic neglect. The civic body responsible for the cleanliness, Municipal Committee Baramulla (MCB), is facing an acute shortage of sweepers resulting in the mess. A light rainfall submerges roads due to defunct drainage. Heaps of garbage could be seen strewn on roads.

The cleanliness drive was appreciated on the social media. "Where there is a will there is a way, really commendable job done by the Baramulla Police, but the police was already there, the changes on ground have taken place of late, something on top has changed to infuse will in our police for rendering social service besides implementation of law," Gyas Ud Din Mufti, a lawyer wrote on Facebook.

A businessman from the town, Mohammad Yousuf Maknoo, termed the drive as "commendable step", but sought implementation of ban on polythene.