Within a fortnight of the city police deciding to have a system of community policing with the active participation of residents, the Rajajinagar police are already on the roll to prove that they can deliver.

A list of 60 special officers has already been submitted to the police commissioner's office for clearance.

With heavy police presence the station deals with crimes and law and order problems very effectively. "We find the police at Rajajinagar very quick in responding to calls from the residents of the area. Perhaps this might have given them an edge over other police stations," Manjunath, who runs a shop at Bhashyam Circle, said. Once considered a hot bed of politics and also an 'adda' of the underworld, the police station limits stretch to a meagre 1.5 sq km with a population of 1.6 lakh. "We had a list of 49 rowdies operating in the area. They have now either moved to some other areas or become subdued due to various reasons. Prakashnagar, where most of the anti-social elements stayed earlier, was the only problem area within the police station limits. Now that the area has become more commercial, business interests have taken priority for many of the rowdies there," a police officer said.

To substantiate this, he handed out the crime graph of 2008, which stated that there was one murder in the area, which was solved. "The highest number of crime is that of two-wheeler thefts, which accounts for 48 of the total 217 crimes reported in this police station limits," the officer said. The officer feels that with a hard working staff and effective policing, this has become a quite and peaceful area.

He said shortage of staff still affects patrolling as the total strength of constables is 41, 10 short of the sanctioned strength. With the area stretching from Bhashyam Circle on the South, Navrang Circle on the north, the service road of Chord Road on the west and Prakashnagar in the west, there is a need to increase the strength for more effective patrolling. Except for the shortage of two police sub inspectors, the station has all the paraphernalia of proper staff structure.

"We conduct citizens committee meeting every fortnight. With the new system of community policing in place, residents can lead a peaceful life ," another officer said.

MK Madhusoodan/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication