Gurgaon smartens up its cops before Games

Gurgaon police is getting ready to look smarter and better ahead of the Commonwealth Games, reports Sanjeev K Ahuja.

Gurgaon police is getting ready to look smarter and better ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

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The traffic policemen will no longer wear the white and bulky iron helmets. Instead, they will sport stylish Gorkha or cowboy hats.

Alok Mittal, joint commissioner of Gurgaon police, said a large number of hats have been procured for the traffic police personnel. “These hats are light and will also give a smart look to the policemen.”

Mittal said Bangalore police in Karnataka used such hats. “We have been receiving complaints from our traffic personnel that the conventional iron white helmets were very heavy and policemen sweat a lot during summers,” he said. “This affects the functioning of the cops.”

Their danda (stick) has been replaced by a light-weight aluminium baton.

Senior officers of assistant commissioner of police rank and above will sport cricket headgears from Reebok.

The JCP said the headgears have also been procured. “These helmets are light weight and much better than the conventional iron helmets. We plan to procure the same in bigger number through our headquarters for the entire force,” he said.

Police are also considering a proposal to buy sophisticated gadgets made in countries like Israel.

In May this year, the police department had tested hi-voltage immobiliser that can flash electric current of 1,800 Volt with the press of the button and immobilise a criminal by rendering him unconscious for about 30 seconds.

Gurgaon police had also formed a dedicated anti-laptop robbery squad of ‘educated and computer savvy’ police personnel after it witnessed a surge in laptop thefts in the city.

“The idea is to make the police force more effective and smart,” said Mittal. “Our force would look more presentable in them.”