Nagpur rates quite high on the crime charts, and the ongoing pandemic resulting in further pressure on the police to check peoples’ movements have overstretched the work of the police. To come to grips with the situation, the Zonal DCP of Nagpur, Mr. Lohit Matani has devised a pattern of intense foot patrolling and occasional route marches in congested areas and slums, especially, during evening hours, to keep criminals at bay and check the notorious ones who roam around aimlessly, breaking Covid19 guidelines.
In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Matani talked in detail about his plan and how it has helped the police.
INCREASED CRIME RATE DURING LOCKDOWN
With a majority of Nagpur youth working in malls, salons, marriage halls, small shops, etc. the Covid19 lockdown rendered them unemployed. This corresponded with a rise in the crime rate here.
“Murders and serious offenses started happening for minor reasons. Our crime rate increased by 100% in 2020, serious offenses increased by 400%, and the usual policing and actions didn’t work anymore,” Mr. Matani told Indian Masterminds.
Therefore, the officer tried identifying the time during which crime reports were the highest. He figured out that the crimes were at their peak between 7 PM-10 PM daily and was increasing on weekends.
“Since the area is particularly small, the presence of police walking around on foot would instill a sense of fear among the criminals, thereby reducing their activities,” he held.
KEEPING THE PEOPLE INDOORS
Furthermore, the IPS officer realized that keeping a check on their homes and seizing any potential weapons would further prevent any crime.
He realized that there is no proper lockdown in slum areas. Everyone tends to roam outside. With his patrolling activity, he wished to check people and instill the fear of taking action against them, if anyone was found roaming aimlessly.
“Our whole aim was to disperse crowds breaking Covid guidelines and this could only be possible if we moved around on foot in narrow lanes and crossroads, where we usually found people gathered and chilling out in groups,” Mr. Matani told Indian Masterminds.
Through this technique, the DCP is able to keep a check on people and cease them from gathering in groups on the streets.
AN ADDITIONAL HEALTH BENEFIT
A supplementary benefit of patrolling on foot daily for 10-15 kilometers is that it improves the health and physical strength of the police officers.
“While trying to impose lockdown and fighting crimes, we tend to overlook our physical and mental health but the foot patrolling does good in this department and helps us keep a check on it,” stated the officer.
LEADING THE PACK
Where Mr. Matani could have easily sat at home and enjoyed his weekends, he chose to sacrifice enjoyment and rest to patrol on foot on the streets thereby strengthening his connection with the police force.
“Walking along with their leader motivates the police officials as well and helps us in interacting and understanding each other in a better manner. This also helps me in making decisions regarding the changes required for improvement,” he told Indian Masterminds.
In this way, the officer is able to give his entire time to his work and can improve his leadership qualities.
SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE
Talking about the success of his idea, Mr. Matani pointed out that the crime rate has decreased quite a bit in the last 15 days.
“Street crimes have decreased by a lot, although household crimes still prevail, we’re working on these too,” he says.
Now that the public watches police moving on foot from one place to another and catching criminals in their act, they feel relatively safer in their homes and on the streets. Mr. Matani is killing several birds with one stone by interacting with people, controlling crime, maintaining Covid guidelines, and improving their own health- all by walking on foot.
