Summary:
BHUBANESWAR: Adding teeth to its patrolling system, the commissionerate police have decided to issue firearms to its personnel, manning the police control room ( PCR ) vans in the capital city. The decision has been taken in the wake of criminals using firearms to commit snatching and robbery.“We feel the need of providing firearms to our PCR staff for their self-defence and effectively challenging the armed criminals on hot pursuit,” commissioner of police (CP) Satyajit Mohanty said. PCR vans of the modern control room may be used for patrolling in the vulnerable areas,” Mohanty said.The IICs have also been asked to reschedule the night blocking hour, sources said. “We have asked the IICs to locate the snatching-prone areas (mostly when the crime occurred during dawn). Local police stations should introduce foot and bike patrolling in those areas..