Large parts of Uttarakhand off policing map for past two years

As much as 60 per cent of the remote terrain in Uttarakhand is currently unmanned since revenue officers (patwaris), who have been notified as police sub-inspectors, have been boycotting work for two years now.

Carrying on a decades-old tradition, Uttarakhand is the only state where patwaris, who mainly look after land records, have been given powers to register cases under various IPC sections for offences including heinous crimes like rape and murder.

At least nine of the 13 districts in Uttarakhand are currently devoid of any police presence in their remote hilly regions and sources said there are close to 1,000 police revenue posts where no policing activity is being carried out.

The revenue-cum-police officers have boycotted work in support of their demand for higher wages since their additional duties include registering and investigating cases against offenders and going through the process of litigation. One reason for the low crime rate in the state, the police admits, is that many offences in areas under the jurisdiction of the revenue police officers go unregistered.

Director General of Police (DGP) Uttarakhand, J S Pandey said, “The ground reality is that these areas are unmanned and there’s no vigil. It’s a major part in the hill areas where these revenue police officers have boycotted work since long”.

The DGP said certain border areas including Pithoragarh, Champawat and Choumauli are particularly vulnerable.

State president of the Parwatiya Patwari Maha Sangh P P Jagauri said they would continue the boycott until their demands for adequate wages are met.

SSP Dehradun GS Martolia also said the issue needs to be addressed on priority. “Even the upper areas in Dehradun are not secure as there’s no discharge of duty by revenue police officers.”

Additional Principal Secretary Uttarakhand SK Muttoo said: “Nowhere is the strike formally known, since there has been no such communication from the Patwari association to the government. Early this month, we wrote to the association asking them to clear their stand. It’s only then that we can act.”

Source:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/large-parts-of-uttarakhand-off-policing-map-for-past-two-years/664050/2