Managed to down crime graph in city, says outgoing Police Commissioner Arpit Shukla

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 2

From donning a Santa’s cap on Christmas by distributing free food and toys among street children to playing a good Samaritan by distributing free ration and blankets among the needy, the Jalandhar police have come a long way from its ‘scare me’ impact since the outgoing Police Commissioner Arpit Shukla took over its reins last year.

“Though preparing our police personnel to do community policing was a tough challenge, we overtook it and managed to deliver excellent results by bringing the crime graph down in the city,” said outgoing Police Commissioner Arpit Shukla, who on Sunday took over as IG (Zonal II) Jalandhar range.

While speaking to Jalandhar Tribune, Shukla said along with preparing the police personnel to be ‘nice’ and cooperative’ with victims, the community policing has also made them create a relationship of trust with city residents.

“Earlier, the police were seen as a extended hand of criminals and people used to get scared from the former, but now we have managed to bring a smile on the face of a child whenever he sees a policeman,” said Shukla.

Shukla, who took over the reins of the City Police Commissioner, had many tough challenges in front of him which majorly included the rising snatching incidents. Also, he overtook the challenge to get his security men penetrate into the deepest threads of drug syndicates flourishing in various areas, including the Qazi mandi and Basti areas.

By holding regular medical and social awareness camps in these areas, he managed to build an atmosphere of hope among people who were living in a deep despair and under the fear of the police.

Along with community policing, Shukla also boosted the investigative network of his team and cracked many cases.

Not only the officer, his better half Shruti Shukla also contributed a lot to the welfare of society. By launching a project, ‘Disha’, she helped schoolchildren choose the right career by screening them under a special psychological test conducted free of cost by the Police Department.

Sinha is new City Police Commissioner

While 1994 batch IPS officer Praveen Sinha will be the new Police Commissioner of the City, Rajjit Singh would be the new DCP. Outgoing DCP Navjot Mahal will take over as the Khanna SSP. Also, IGP LK Yadav will take over as IGP (Training) at Punjab Armed Battalions at PAP. Also, SK Kalia will be the new DIG (Admn), PAP.

ADGP holds close-door meetings with officials

Newly appointed STF in-charge ADGP Harpreet Singh Sidhu was in the city today to interact with Jalandhar police personnel. He held close-door meetings with a few top officials and discussed various ways to end the drug menace in the area. Though he did not meet the media awaiting outside, sources said Sidhu directed the police personnel to hold a ‘no compromise and zero tolerance’ approach towards drug dealers and drug peddlers.