Bhopal: On May 6, 2023, the Madhya Pradesh state police force conducted foot patrols throughout the state to increase the visibility of the police and enhance the sense of security among the citizens. The initiative was taken under the instructions of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had recently emphasized the promotion of basic policing and stricter measures against those who disturb peace and law and order. The police force, including more than 20,000 officers and personnel, came out on the streets to take stock of the law and order situation and interact with the citizens.
The Director General of Police (DGP), Sudhir Kumar Saxena, and other senior officers patrolled about 10 km on foot in congested and sensitive areas of Bhopal, starting from the TT Nagar police station and passing through Rangmahal Square, Roshanpura, Control Room, PHQ Tiraha, Shabban Square, Jinsi Square, Pul Bogda, Prabhat Square, in front of Thana Ashoka Garden, and finally reaching Bajaria Thana. The DGP interacted with the public and took stock of the police arrangements, stopping at various places to talk to shopkeepers and residents. He also asked the citizens whether any goon, miscreant, or mafia was troubling them.
The objective of the foot patrolling program was to strengthen the sense of security among the common people, to ensure the availability and visibility of the police among the common people, and to monitor criminals and anti-social elements. Foot patrols increase police visibility in busy areas, create a sense of security in citizens, and build a communication bridge between the citizens and the police. They also help to increase the confidence of the general public towards the police and monitor criminals and anti-social elements.
During foot patrols, senior officers in the entire state interacted with the general public, inquiring about the problems being faced by the public and giving necessary guidelines for their redressal. This helped to build trust between the police and the citizens and strengthened the information system of the police. The foot patrols also helped to identify geographical locations for dealing with any untoward incidents.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had previously emphasized the effectiveness of foot patrolling during the 57th All India Conference of Directors General/Inspectors General of Police held in New Delhi in January. He recommended that police forces undergo training in emerging technologies to strengthen the traditional police system, including foot patrolling. The Madhya Pradesh police force has taken these recommendations seriously and has emphasized the promotion of basic policing and stricter measures against those who disturb peace and law and order.
In summary, the Madhya Pradesh police force conducted foot patrols throughout the state to increase the visibility of the police, enhance the sense of security among the citizens, monitor criminals and anti-social elements, and build trust between the police and the citizens. The foot patrols were conducted under the instructions of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who emphasized the promotion of basic policing and stricter measures against those who disturb peace and law and order. The initiative was also in line with the recommendations of the Prime Minister to strengthen the traditional police system, including foot patrolling.
