Pune police commissioner Dr. K Venkatesham to strengthen Crime Branch through restructuring

Pune: NP NEWS 24 ONLINE – In a move which will go a long way in making the Pune City Police Crime Branch a more lethal weapon against organised crime syndicates and uncover serious offences, Police Commissioner Dr K Venkatesham on Tuesday proposed merging five units of the Crime Branch, with other units.

The units proposed to be disbanded include the anti-dacoity cell, anti-organised crime cell (2 units), homicide squad, anti-vehicle theft squad, property cell. These units may be merged with the social security cell (SSC), crime branch units 1 to 5, anti-extortion cell and other units.

Police officials said that the merger will streamline their work as there used to be the duplication of work among the units. “There are many units who have got few cases while others are burdened. It is also about quality of work and not just quantity. Some units end up doing the same thing”, an officer remarked.

Officials also believe some of the Crime Branch units have become rehabilitation centres for officers who do not want to go out of Pune. “There are officers who have spent years together in Pune (few of them have almost spent their career here) as they do not want to go out of Pune. They are posted with Crime Branch and enjoying their stay here as there is no serious work to do. Instead of Crime Branch, they should be posted with the traffic branch to make them work as they know the geography and problems of Pune well. Many officers are posted in units for years and due to their closeness with previous senior officers, important cases which have high publicity value went to selected few. This has also created rift among various units. In the past, there have been instances wherein cases cracked by other units, have been claimed by these few officers due to their proximity with top bosses. They want to take credit but do not want to work on the field”, the officer further added.

Since August 15 this year, a major part of the Pune police commissionerate went to Pimpri-Chinchwad police. Therefore, the strength also reduced to about 10,000. For better management of law and order, Vekatesham divided the area under five zones each headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank officer. Earlier there were only four zones when Pimpri-Chinchwad was also in Pune police commissionerate. Also, the DCP (foreigners registration office) and DCP (special branch ) has been merged as only DCP (Special Branch). Now there is only one DCP for headquarters.

“Most of the FRO work has become online so there is no work left for DCP rank officer there. DCP special branch can supervise FRO as it used to be about 8-9 years ago. Maintaining law and order is our priority hence we have posted five DCPs in zones and by diving the jurisdiction in smaller areas. This will give better grip to the officers who are new to Pune”, added another senior officer.

As far as Crime Branch is concerned, the officer explained, “When there is no work then politics takes place between team members. There is so much of infighting instead of keeping a watch on criminals. Many units have been doing other works than assigned to them. Many units have also resulted in everyone trying to create their own fiefdom and collecting hafta. The restructuring will make Crime Branch a lean and mean force to curb organised crime syndicates.”