District police officers (DPOs) have been directed to personally inspect the scene of all police encounters to make sure that extra-judicial killings are not passed off as shootouts with criminals.
Inspector General (IG) of Punjab Police Khan Baig directed regional police officers (RPOs), at a conference at the Central Police Office on Tuesday, to make sure that the instructions reach the DPOs. The DPOs must also hold regular open courts at police stations to address the grievances of the people, he said.
The IG said that field officers had an important job, as their presence in the field was a morale boost for the force and ensured a better liaison with the public, thus giving them a sense of security.
The RPOs conference considered including five gangs in the Top 10 and Top 20 most-wanted list and reviewed data on the number of auto-theft, cattle theft, and armed robbery cases across the province.
The officers decided to intensify the crackdown on electricity and gas theft. The IG was told that 553 cases of gas and electricity theft had been registered in the last six weeks in the province. Challans for 259 of these cases had been submitted and 280 cases were being investigated. Of the 905 accused in the 553 cases, 382 had been arrested. They have been accused of stealing gas and electricity worth Rs4.55 billion.
On recruitments, the IG directed the officers to follow the standard operating procedures for the physical measurement of applicants. An officer of DIG rank would personally monitor the process, while security would be ensured at recruitment centres.
The IG said that promotions from the rank of constable to head constable and head constable to ASI should be completed as soon as possible so the department had a clear picture about the number of vacant positions at the district level. The meeting decided to set up special boards for recruitment in 14 districts. Each board will have a DIG as chairman, an SP as member and the DPO concerned as secretary.
Fifty police officials from DG Khan and Bahawalpur will be provided Elite Force training, the officers decided, in view of the serious nature of the crimes in the southern Punjab regions. It was also decided that plainclothes policemen in private vehicles would be deployed around important banks to provide security.
All field officers are to forward the names of two policemen for posting as investigation officers at the police stations in their districts.
The officers must also take serious action like forced retirement and dismissal from service against negligent officials and those involved in misuse of power.
The regional police officers were directed to remain in close contact with members of peace committees and local representatives. They expressed satisfaction over a “substantial fall” in terrorism cases in the province.
The inspector general directed them to improve coordination with the media in order to clarify or deny media reports promptly.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 11th, 2013.