RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Feb.18: Jharkhand took a step forward towards digital policing as Superintendent of Police (SP) of Gumla, Ehtesham Waquarib, introduced QR-based attendance for patrolling party members from Monday.
Under the system, patrolling party members mark their QR-based attendance at 22 places across the district to help the senior officials know their real-time position. A police official said with the introduction of the system patrolling has increased.
“Earlier information used to come suggesting that patrolling parties do not perform duty properly and it used to be a challenge for us to know whether the patrolling party members were really on moving or not. After the QR attendance system was introduced, the number of complaints about patrolling has reduced,” the police officer said.
SP Waquarib confirmed the development saying soon the number of places for QR based attendance will be increased.
“Very soon the number of places where a QR-based attendance system has been installed will be increased to 50. The system will make police more accountable and improve patrolling. Patrolling parties will be marking their attendances at regular intervals at different locations and officers connected to them can know their location and their movement,” he said.
SP Waquarib said apart from digital policing other initiatives are also being taken to bridge the communication gap between police and the public.
“The district has been divided into 11 beats and for each beat an officer has been deputed. It has made policing better,” he said.
A retired police official, however, said electronic gadgets hardly make any difference in policing. “Context is decisive, not the equipment. Those who do not want to work know 100 ways to defy the system and for those who want to work are comfortable with any system. The system is required to change the mindset of police not to make policemen bullock with bells hanging on their necks for tracking,” the retired police official said.
