Photo: Prakhar Pandey
Policing Gurgaon has become a major challenge – especially due to the rapid increase in population, a large floating workforce, porous borders with Delhi and closeness to Mewat (which has long been known as a favourite haunt of criminals). The task has been made more challenging by the paucity of policemen in the City. The City’s poor planning, bad engineering and inadequate infrastructure further makes it difficult to ensure the safety and security of residents. Notwithstanding these problems, the new Gurgaon Police Chief, Navdeep Singh Virk, firmly believes that things are going to significantly improve in the City in the next few months, starting with the functioning of the Police department. Virk strongly believes in the application of technology, to ensure maximum results with minimum deployment. Further, the strongest message that he has sent to all the rank and file is that no level of corruption will be tolerated in the department. "The feedback on the message has been good", says Virk. He has asked the Vigilance department to be extra vigilant on corruption. When Friday Gurgaon was interviewing the Commissioner, a message came that the Vigilance team had nabbed a head constable in Rajendra Park, for asking for money in lieu of a ‘favour’. Virk says that the biggest challenge for him is to streamline the Traffic system in a city that is a poor example of ‘urbanisation’. "The City has been badly planned, For example, the roads are engineered in such a manner that no amount of policing can really improve the traffic," he says. Traffic Management is about engineering, education and enforcement, says Virk. However, given the current situation, he has little option other than stationing more policemen (from an already low number) on the road. This can at best be a temporary measure. Virk and his team are also implementing some ‘local’ initiatives to tackle the building traffic problems – like placing concrete blocks at both sides of Bilaspur Chowk, which has ended the permanent traffic jams there. Virk has also met the Gurgaon MLA and asked for an improvement in the road infrastructure.
On safety and security, the Police Commissioner would like to work on an area wise security system. Vehicle thefts are endemic in the City, and the entire police force has been tasked to ensure that these are controlled. The Commissioner also would like all car owners to instal a GPS tracking system in their vehicles, and be vigilant while parking their cars. "We have also ensured that the police are more accessible through the use of technology - people can approach us through phone, email or even WhatsApp,” says Virk. The police force is already internally communicating and being monitored through WhatsApp, and also using it to exchange information with the public. This change in the working of the police is being felt by the residents, and many have been sending Virk messages appreciating the same, as well as offering new ideas about how technology can be deployed to enhance police efficiency. "We are open to all ideas and I request and welcome all citizens of Gurgaon to send me their ideas on how to adopt technology to better the working of the police,” says Virk. For night patrols, the Gurgaon Police has deployed two ACPs to supervise the ‘nakas’ – and one of their responsibilities is to post a message and a picture of each naka and share it on the WhatsApp group.
Gurgaon Police is also using mobile phones and video cameras to collect pictures and videos, which are shared live with senior police officers. For serious crimes, multiple police teams co-ordinate with each other through technology and mobile applications. This has already led to the speedy resolution of a few serious crimes – like the snatching of a carbine from policemen and the detection of the ‘bomb’ hoax caller. To further reduce crime, and to more effectively analyse crime patterns, the Gurgaon Police is also planning to map the ‘hotspots’ with available data from various sources. "We are studying the areas where crimes such as vehicle thefts, snatchings and other such activities are taking place. The crime prone areas and the timings of crime are being constantly analysed, and relevant insights are being shared with the field staff, so that such activities can be proactively or speedily tackled," says Virk. To specifically target snatchings, the police bike rider teams have been increased, and they would be further strengthened.
Virk encourages the citizens to also report (minor) crimes and violations to the police, by preferably sharing pictures or clicking videos. "We want the citizens to act as the eyes and ears of the police. They can even share the information anonymously,” he says. In fact, Police Commissioner Virk is very keen to reintroduce Beat Policing (of old). He says that the basic objective is to task a police official to be effectively ‘in charge’ of a particular area; he should literally know each and every person within a few months. "The Beat officials will know their area the best, and will be in regular touch with the people. This helps improve communication and information sharing, which are most important in checking crime," he asserts. When asked why the number of policemen that were visible on Gurgaon roads has diminished, Virk says that he believes in smarter ways to check crimes and violations. "In a couple of weeks the City will see better checkpoints, as new barricades have been requisitioned - with the help of corporates who have come forward to help under CSR. The nakas will be made more effective," he asserts. Gurgaon Police is also committed to the idea of 'Zero FIR', whereby a citizen can get a complaint registered in any police station, irrespective of where the crime has taken place. Virk says that it is the stated policy of the State government that an FIR must be registered if a crime has been reported. "We are registering cases liberally. Recently we registered a rape case at Bhondsi police station, on the basis of a letter from Aligarh. The case has now been transferred to Aligarh. That is how Zero FIR should work," he informs. On being asked how Gurgaon Police is keeping a watch on habitual offenders, the Police Commissioner says there are crime teams that keep a regular and close watch on these criminals, and it is their job to keep them in check. The learning from the recent ‘bomb hoax calls’ has been that Gurgaon Police has now created a standard operating procedure in case of another bomb threat in the City. "I am more than happy that the police teams performed well even on the first day; and by the second day the police response was measured and timely, as a drill had already been prepared the day before. Now, all officials, from SHOs to the Commissioner of Police, know what they have to do in case of such a threat. We do prepare for many eventualities, but terror cases are indeed different – specially those in large public areas. There was some ‘chaos’ caused by the hoax calls, but the learning has been valuable. This is where the public must also come in and share some responsibility. People should willingly share information with the police, and personally behave well and respect rules. I believe that citizens are my best force multipliers," states Virk.
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