THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, May 12: The Palamu Police has launched its ‘Jan Sampark’ programme to strengthen public trust and improve communication between the police and citizens during times of crisis and distress.
The maiden interactive session under the initiative was held with mediapersons in Daltonganj on Tuesday and chaired by Palamu Superintendent of Police Kapil Chaudhary.
SP Calls for Responsible Journalism
During the interaction, SP Kapil Chaudhary stressed the need for responsible reporting and cautioned against sensationalism in crime coverage.
Alluding to the death of a man by the roadside, which could be caused by excessive drinking, poverty, or destitution but portrayed on social media as murder, he said, “Media should shun sensationalism. It leads us nowhere. It’s cheap.”
Referring to media scrutiny over FIRs, he said, “Media is up on foot putting question mark to police as to why the accused in the FIR not sent to jail and why this delay, little understanding that the end of all the FIRs is not the jail as there is a lawful course of PE (preliminary enquiry).”
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‘Media Is an Ang of Police’
As a gesture of goodwill and cooperation, the SP repeatedly referred to the media as an “ang” (part) of the police system during the interaction.
At the same time, he encouraged journalists to gain a better understanding of laws such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Evidence Act before reporting crime-related stories.
“A journalist should have a first hand knowledge of the basics of the BNS, BNSS, evidence act etc before venturing out to describe any crime in such a diction that satisfies the fancy rather than the fact,” he said.
SP Stresses Importance of Dial 112
Kapil Chaudhary urged mediapersons to help spread awareness about the emergency response number Dial 112, especially in rural areas.
“Urban populace knows dial 112 more than the rural ones. This number should be a household number,” he asserted.
The SP also advised journalists and residents to install CCTV cameras outside their homes to improve safety and assist investigations in cases of theft or burglary.
Action Against Helmet Rule Violations
Responding to questions from journalists about policemen riding motorcycles without helmets, the SP said strict action would be taken against violators.
“Cops who are found biking without a helmet will be fined, and disciplinary action will be initiated against the erring cops,” he said.
Highlighting the rising number of road accidents in Palamu, he added, “There is hardly any day here in Palamu when blood doesn’t smear roads following road accidents. It’s everyone’s responsibility to contain it.”
More Outreach Programmes Planned
The SP said the Police Jan Sampark programme would soon be expanded to include various civil society groups as part of efforts to bridge the gap between the police and the public.
About the police WhatsApp group, he said, “Anything that lowers the confidence and trust of the common man in police shall not be in that WhatsApp group and violator of it will be shown the door.”
The session concluded with discussions on strengthening cooperation between police and media to rebuild public trust and improve community engagement.