Thiruvananthapuram, May 24 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy Tuesday announced a cash award of Rs.5,000 to anyone who provides clues through pictures taken with mobile phone cameras that will help police solve crimes.

Chandy, who is also the home minister, announced the initiative after his first meeting with the top brass of the Kerala Police here.

"This is one way we can possibly help the police solve crimes. There has been a huge rise in crimes like burglaries in the state. It would help police if people provided them with mobile phone pictures if they witness such crimes occur," Chandy told reporters here.

"If the clue helps the police to arrest the suspect, the person who took the picture will be given a cash award of Rs.5,000," said Chandy.

The meeting also decided to address the complaints from the tribal and the Scheduled Castes-Scheduled Tribes communities over unfair treatment by the police, the chief minister added.

The meeting further decided to consider the training period of police personnel while calculating their service period.

This would increase the pension for retired police officials, whose service period will be re-calculated.