Cong delegation under Pritam Singh expresses concern over law & order in Uttarakhand

PrashantNews

Expressing concern over the law-and-order situation in Uttarakhand, a delegation of Congress party Led by former PCC chief Pritam Singh, who is also Chairman of the state Congress election campaign committee, on Tuesday met Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan in Dehradun.

Submitting a memorandum, Singh expressed called for taking immediate steps to curb the growing pub and bar culture in Dehradun and other parts of Uttarakhand.

“Murders occurring in broad daylight in Dehradun, particularly the firing incidents have raised serious questions regarding the law and order situation. It is also a matter of grave concern that the government machinery in the state often becomes active only when a major incident occurs, whereas it is imperative to ensure a system that remains vigilant and proactive at all times,” the memorandum said.

Singh pointed out that while specific operating hours are prescribed for bars on normal days, they are permitted to remain open until 12:00 AM late at night on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). “This arrangement gives rise to serious concerns from a law-and-order perspective, particularly given that the likelihood of criminal incidents increases during late-night hours,” he said.

Therefore, it is absolutely essential to formulate a clear, consistent, and strictly enforceable policy regarding this matter. While presenting his demands to the Chief Secretary, he asserted that keeping in view the current circumstances and public sentiment it appears absolutely necessary to implement the following suggestions at the administrative level:

1. Accountability must be ensured at the police station level, and mandatory weekly crime review meetings should be organized.
2. Police patrolling should be strengthened in both urban and rural areas particularly in desolate regions and the number of PCR vans should be increased.
3. In the event of a crime, clear accountability must be established for the concerned Beat Officer and the Station House Officer (SHO).
4. Regular verification drives should be conducted across the state, specifically targeting outsiders and homestay operators. 5. With a view to ensuring women’s safety, a special women’s safety team should be constituted in every district.
5. CCTV cameras installed at key locations should be integrated with modern technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
6. The response time of the ‘112’ emergency service should be minimized.
7. The Cyber ​​Crime Cell should be further strengthened to prevent cybercrimes.
8. The process for issuing licenses to pubs and bars should be made stricter and more transparent.
9. A complete ban should be imposed on the operation of pubs and bars within a 500-meter radius of schools, colleges, and religious sites.
10. A complete prohibition on the operation of pubs and bars after 11:00 PM must be ensured; in the event of a violation, the license should be revoked immediately.
11. Uniformity should be established regarding the operating hours of liquor shops and bars to eliminate administrative confusion and ensure effective control.
12. The installation of CCTV cameras and the deployment of security personnel outside pubs and bars should be made mandatory.
13. A complete ban should be imposed on the entry of minors, and strict punitive action should be taken against violators.
14. A ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy against ‘drunk driving’ should be adopted, and regular breathalyzer checks should be conducted.
15. Police verification of bouncers and security personnel deployed at pubs and bars should be made mandatory.
16. Bars and party hubs operating illegally under the guise of ‘homestays’ should be identified, and strict action should be taken against them.
17. De-addiction and awareness campaigns should be conducted across the state, specifically targeting the youth.
18. Police-public dialogue should be promoted at the local level through the formation of Peace Committees and ‘Mohalla’ (neighborhood) meetings.
19. A helpline or mobile application should be developed for the general public, enabling them to report illegal activities confidentially.
20. Gram Panchayats (Village Councils) and ‘Mahila Mangal Dals’ (Women’s Welfare Groups) should be involved as active participants in the surveillance mechanism.

The Congress delegation stated that Uttarakhand has historically been recognized as a peaceful, religious, and culturally rich state. Therefore, it is essential that the administration develops a proactive, vigilant, and accountable system, rather than merely reacting after incidents have occurred. Urging that the aforementioned suggestions be given serious consideration and that necessary directives be issued, Singh, a former cabinet minister, emphasized that law and order within the state must be strengthened so that the sanctity of ‘Devbhoomi’ remains inviolate.