Young IPS officer changes face of Chatiwind police station

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 4

From a rickety structure with chocked drains, a stinky washroom and messy case property vehicles stashed on the premises giving a look akin to a junk yard, the Chatiwind police station have witnessed a tremendous facelift in the past two months.

Though it has not been a declared model police station, it is nothing less than it. Thanks to the efforts put in by a young IPS officer, ASP Sohail Mir, who is posted as SHO at the police station since February.

He took a number of initiatives, including strengthening the infrastructure and making it people’s friendly, for changing the picture of the police station. Now, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has also recognised his services and honoured him.

“It was hard to maintain composure, leave aside working properly. Then I decided to change the things. There was no proper facility for adequate water and washroom. There were chocked sewers, which were emanating a foul smell. There was no gate and the front wall, along with the sentry post, had collapsed,” said Sohail.

“First, I got the front gate erected. Thereafter, the wall was repaired and sentry posts were set up. Flashlights were also installed to illuminate blackspots. It gave a sense of security at the police station,” he added.

A room was converted into a waiting hall with the proper facility of drinking water. Besides, it has a fan for people visiting the police station. A suggestion box was installed for taking feedback of visitors. A reception-cum-counselling cabin was also set up.

He personally reads feedback given by visitors. He said the work of digitisation of records has started at the police station.

The area outside the police station was cleared of garbage to make a parking space for police personnel. The kitchen was refurbished and a vegetable orchard was prepared for fresh vegetables. Apart from this, a volleyball court was made for the fitness of policemen.

He gave the credit for the facelift to his entire team and Amritsar (Rural) SSP Vikram Jeet Duggal.

The young IPS officer also set up a welfare fund, ‘Imdaad’, which is maintained by the contribution of employees of the police station. Another welfare scheme, ‘Shifa’, was launched to provide free medicine to needy persons. It has been lauded by people of the area.