UP DGP Rajeev Krishna addressing a gram prahari samman samaroh in Bareilly on Tuesday
Addressing a state-level gram prahari samman samaroh in Bareilly, Krishna said village watchmen were familiar with local residents, village conditions and social activities, making them an important source of ground-level information for the police. Their timely and accurate inputs could help prevent crime, identify emerging tensions and avert possible breaches of peace, he said. The DGP urged gram praharis to immediately inform the police about land disputes, local rivalries, suspicious movements and other unlawful activities. He stressed that they must share information impartially and accurately, while police officers should maintain regular contact with them, take their inputs seriously and act in accordance with the law. Highlighting the challenges posed by the growing use of digital platforms, Krishna cautioned that cyber fraud , online cheating and misinformation circulated through social media had emerged as additional concerns for public safety. He encouraged gram praharis to coordinate with local WhatsApp groups, digital volunteers and other reliable communication channels to ensure that relevant information reached the police without delay. At the same time, he warned them against spreading or acting on rumours and fake news, stressing the need to verify information before passing it on. The DGP also underlined the importance of handling information concerning the safety of women and children with sensitivity and confidentiality. He called for responsible information-sharing to ensure that such matters were dealt with appropriately and did not compromise the privacy or safety of those concerned.
Lucknow: UP Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna on Monday called upon gram praharis (village watchmen) to act as a vital link between police and rural communities by promptly reporting local disputes, suspicious activities and potential law-and-order problems.