SIs to be backs as SHOs at 414 police stations from Aug 15

Kochi: Home minister Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday announced that the charge of station house officer (SHO) would be handed back to sub-inspectors (SIs) at 414 police stations in state.In a news conference in Kochi, Ramesh said inspectors will continue as SHOs in the remaining 64 of the total 478 police stations in state. He also declared journalists as Toofan Warriors, volunteers in the ongoing anti-drug campaign Operation Toofan.Ramesh said the plan to hand over SHO charge to SIs was part of govt efforts to renew the police force based on an expert committee’s report.He said the 64 stations, where inspectors will continue to hold charge, are mostly based in the city and record a higher number of cases.

The new system will allow newly recruited SIs to handle charge of police stations, while inspectors can have supervisory powers over three-four stations. Officers concerned will be given proper training before implementing the new system, he said.The plan is to make stations more people-friendly and, as a first step, before Aug 15, stations will be cleaned and repainted if needed, said Ramesh. “People who visit stations will be properly greeted, and seating arrangements should be ensured,” he said.

An audit will be introduced to check the rate of resolution of complaints received at a station, he added.In response to actor Ansiba’s Facebook post that city police commissioner fooled the minister by misleading that an FIR was registered, Ramesh said he had full trust in the commissioner. Three cases have been registered on her complaint and the probe is on, he said. “I cannot intervene in an ongoing investigation. Initially, police didn’t find any merit in her complaint during preliminary inquiry, and cases were not registered.

Later, three cases were filed following court directive. Let the probe continue,” he said.