Police Mitra scheme

Police Mitra or Friends of Police is an initiative[3] of the State police in different states of India.[4] Civilian citizens having 'good social record'[5] like ex-army men, students,[6] advocates and housewives are responsible in tying up with the police beat staff to look after the law and order, traffic and crowd management, safety of women prevention of crime and informing about suspected elements around their area.[7][8] The arm bands and ID cards provided to police mitras give them the authority to help the police in fighting crime without any salary.[9][10] Police Mitra Kaksh (Police Mitra Centers) were also set up in Haryana.[11] Police Mitras also assist Government Railway Police in railway stations of Mumbai.[12] Police Mitras are also used in maintaining peace in disturbed areas by police department.[13]

Police Mitra scheme
CountryIndia
Prime Minister(s)Narendra Modi[1]
MinistryMinistry of Home Affairs (India)
Key peopleAmit Shah
Launched2015[2]
New Delhi
StatusActive
Websitesatarapolice.gov.in/PoliceMitra

Joining

Under Police Mitra scheme, any Indian citizen can volunteer by visiting the police web portal, filling a form, and selecting one or more than one of the 23 options, which include checking crime, environment conservation, helping in social media topics, enhancing awareness on human rights and awareness on anti-social elements. The police mitra should be over 18 years of age and must not be a member of a political party as well as he/she should not have any past record of anti-social activity.[14]

Controversy

According to Abhishek Jain, Research Assistant at Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, Police mitras being an extrajudicial force like erstwhile Special Police Officers (SPO) can be misused for surveillance and gathering intelligence on minorities and traditionally marginalised communities further intensifying mistrust.[15] In February 2020, a police mitra was arrested for extortion case at Pune.[16] In January 2020, Supriya Sharma in Scroll.in reported police mitras in Uttar Pradesh were mostly members of particular political outfits after they Baton charged protesters.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Delhi Police to induct civilians as 'Police Mitra'". The Statesman. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  2. Bose, Soumitra. "Citizens, cops come together in 'police mitra' scheme". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  3. I., P. T. "Civilians to now assist police as Police Mitra". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  4. Mohanty, Satyajit; Mohanty, Rabindra K. (21 October 2014). Community Policing as a Public Policy: Challenges and Recommendations. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4438-7018-4. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. "Civilians to now assist police as 'Police Mitra'". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  6. "Pune: 3,300 students to be eyes and ears of cops during visarjan". mid-day. 8 September 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  7. Correspondent, dna (20 November 2016). "Delhi Police involves locals for effective policing". DNA India. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  8. "Police joined hands with citizens for efficient Community Policing, Police Mitra Scheme launched at Udaipur". Daily Udaipur. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  9. "Delhi's Police Mitras: Why Civilians Are Fighting Crime For No Pay". Youth Ki Awaaz. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  10. Protector, The. "Transgender Police Mitras Thane Police ( Rural)". Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  11. Service, Tribune News. "Khattar to open first 'Police Mitra Kaksh'". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  12. "Mumbai Stations to have 'Police Mitra' for Help – RailNews Media India Ltd". Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  13. Dubey, Avishek Kumar. "5,500 cops, 500 police mitras keep Ghaziabad calm". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  14. "5,000 people become police mitra in Rajasthan in a month". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  15. "Delhi's Citizen 'Police Mitras' Could Cause More Harm Than Good". The Quint. 2 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  16. "'Police mitra' arrested in extortion case in Pune". Hindustan Times. 16 February 2020. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  17. Sharma, Supriya. "Meet the 'friends' of the Uttar Pradesh police who wielded batons against Muslims a month ago". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
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