Bihar: Cops patrol on foot to curb crime in Bhagalpur

BHAGALPUR: With a view to procuring information about criminals besides instilling confidence in the common people, the Bhagalpur police led by SSP Ashish Bharti has initiated foot patrolling commonly known as ‘paidal gashti abhiyan’.
The objective of this initiative is to check violation of traffic rules and motivating people to wear face masks. “The foot patrolling, launched on Wednesday night, intends to give a clear message to the criminals that police are alert and keeping a close eye on the activities of wrongdoers.Apart from instilling confidence in residents, this kind of conventional method helps establish good relations between the common citizen and the police,” the SSP said.
“Even locals, who are hesitant to visit police stations, will also come forward to provide information about the criminals,” the police officer said and added,“Traffic violators will also be hauled up. We are strictly monitoring those who are moving around without face masks. They are being penalized.”
“We have started getting information about law violators and anti-social elements ever since the launch of the patrolling,” Bharti said.
“It makes the citizens feel safe and the criminals keep away from their actions,” said another police officer. City SP Sushant Kumar Saroj, City DSP Rajvansh Singh and others are also on foot patrol under their respective jurisdictions.
Opening of shops: District magistrate Pranav Kumar has issued orders to regulate the opening of shops and business establishments during the Unlock-3 period. The regulated opening of shops and business establishments will be enforced from August 21 to September 6, 2020 in non-containment zones. Vegetable markets, fruit shops, fish, meat and egg shops will open from 6.00 am to 10.00 am, while shops selling construction materials sector like cement, sand, stone chips, steel rods etc will remain open from 8.00 am to 15.00pm. Readymade garment shops, electrical goods shops, mobile, optical, computer, photo studio, hardware, automobile showrooms, paint shops, books and stationary, footwear, plastic goods shops and other shops in non-essential category will remain open from 11.00 am to 2 pm. However, shops and establishments selling essential goods including grocery, medicine, surgical items, fertilizer and agriculture products, LPG etc will remain open for longer duration. Hotels and restaurants have been allowed to open for home delivery only.
These restrictions will remain effective from 21.06.2020 to 06.09.2020, the DM stated in the order. He also directed the SDMs and BDOs, Bhagalpur Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, Sultanganj Nagar Parishad officials, Nagar Panchayats of Kahalgaon and Naugachia besides other to ensure regulated opening of shops and establishments.
Meanwhile, the DM and SSP Ashish Bharti have alerted the district administration officials and SHOs of police stations to keep a strict vigil on mischief mongers during Muharram, which falls on August 29 this year.