more-in More than 250 police personnel received training from the District Superintendent of Police as well as local citizens, as the police instituted the first iteration of the “tourist police” anywhere in India in Udhagamandalam on Tuesday. Next month Officials said that the personnel , drawn from the local and traffic police as well as personnel from the Home Guards, are to be trained to assist the huge number of tourists, who will be visiting the Nilgiris from the beginning of next month during the summer season. Nilgiris District Superintendent of Police Murali Rambha said that while the main focus of the police last year was only on traffic management, the tourist police will aim to reach out to tourists, assist them in finding tourist spots, prevent merchants and autorickshaw drivers from exploiting them and generally ensuring that visitors to the Nilgiris have a pleasant experience. Attitudinal change “In 2016, we estimate that around 35 lakh tourists visited the Nilgiris, while in 2017, it was a lot more. There could be an increase this year too, and so there needs to be an attitudinal change among police so that visitors do not feel scared to approach us for help,” said Mr. Rambha to the tourist police, all of whom have been given high-visibility jackets that will help to set them apart from other people in a crowd. Mr. Rambha said that the tourist police will help to improve the image of the district police, and will also have key responsibilities, such as crime control, traffic regulation and also assisting tourists in recovering missing possessions and finding children who may get lost in populated areas. Shobana Chandrasekar from the Make Ooty Beautiful (MOB) project, who was one of the special guests invited to attend the event, told policemen to assist tourists and be friendly, but at the same time, asked them to be firm with people who break rules, litter and disturb wildlife. Also present at the event was Nagina Reddy, from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Venugopal Dharmalingam, from the Nilgiri Documentation Center, ADSP, Nilgiris, Baskaran, and Ooty Town DSP, S Thirumeni.

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