BHUBANESWAR: The commissionerate police here on Monday launched a community-oriented policing service in slums of the twin cities in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to curb crimes and sensitise youths against narcotics abuse. Additional chief secretary (home) Asit Kumar Tripathy inaugurated the policing service, dubbed as APOSSA Yojna (All-round promotion of sports in slums and young juveniles against narcotics abuse), at the presence of director general of police RP Sharma and commissioner of police Satyajit Mohanty.Under the scheme, the commissionerate police will promote sports activities in slums and organise campaigns against drugs abuse. Police distributed different sports equipment and jerseys among representatives of five slums of Bhubaneswar and one from Cuttack. “It is a novel initiative to bridge the gap between the people residing in slums and the police. I hope the initiative makes slums crime-free,” Sharma said.Mohanty said the police would regularly hold interface with people in slums. “Our personnel will regularly visit slums, interact with people and sensitise them to their obligations to society. We will also request them to keep a watch on suspicious movements,” Mohanty said. Police also plan to involve slum dwellers to prevent crimes in their areas. Police are likely to identify youth clubs and women self-help groups in slums so that cops can partner with them in maintaining peace and law and order in the areas.

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