Cops claim success as Mysuru records 8 per cent less crime

Mysuru: Already a peaceful city, Mysuru's crime rate fell by seven per cent last  year in comparison to 2017  and the city police claims its  special programmes on crime prevention and  people- friendly policing are responsible. 

It says the number of thefts  dropped by 8 per cent due to the new beat system, surprise parade of those booked for crime,  intensified patrolling, "Operations Shubhodaya and Sunset," and so on. 

The formation of an anti-rowdy squad , surprise parades of rowdysheeters, and surprise raids on their houses, ensured better law and order too, the Mysuru police claims.

Under Operation Hawk the police raided hotels and lodges to check for illegal activities and under Operation Hound it took action against eve teasing by alcoholics in parks and elsewhere. 

Operation Decoy was used to check  chain snatching and extortion by miscreants and  Operation Owl to keep track of those out in the city late night, it reveals. 

Its people -friendly measures included distributing visiting cards of policemen with their names and photographs among people along with the introduction of a new beat system. 

The  traffic police did not fare as well although it too came up with special programmes, including Operation Cheetah to enforce traffic rules strictly and "Mithra" to create a more people- friendly image. 

Despite the  many measures taken by them, as many as 831 road accidents were reported, 879 people were injured and 158 people died in them during the year.

The police, however, says it has done its best, distributing advisory slips among those guilty of traffic violations instead of fining them and  travelling in mufti  in autorickshaws to see if the drivers cooperated with the public. 

A traffic advisory committee was formed and  traffic adalats held, it points out.