Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Dec 5: The district police on Saturday December 5 inaugurated the crime prevention month campaign at the Board High School auditorium here

Students inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp in the presence of guests.

Superintendent of police (SP) Annamalai addressing the gathering said that crime prevention month aims at curbing crimes and thereby eradicating the mental agony that victims of crime suffer.

"In theft cases, 70% of the stolen goods can be recovered, whereas when it comes to stolen cash only 25% is recoverable. The police department gets Rs 1 crore from the investigation fund as reimbursement," he said.

On repeated incidents of chain-snatching, he said, "In such incidents, the first 20-25 minutes is most important for the police. Hence, I urge people to report such incidents without any delay. People should be conscious of their surroundings while walking on the road."

On the scarcity of police staff, he said, "India has acute shortage of police personnel. The state has 1,10,000 personnel and according to a survey, one cop is available for every 1,000 people. The ratio should actually be one cop for every 400 people."

He advised those planning a trip to some other place to inform their local police station in order that their homes may be guarded in their absence.

He alsoinformed that the new fingerprint database collection technique will be available across Karnataka by 2018.

A police van was launched on the occasion which will travel round the district during the month of December spreading educative messages on crimes. The SP will speak in 21 schools in the district to educate the students about crimes and preventive measures. There will also be essay competitions for students on the topic of crime prevention.

P Jyothi Nayak, assistant director, prosecution, in her lecture on 'Sexual harassment at the workplace' said that internal committees for women is a must in every government and non-government offices, where close to 10 or more women are employed.

She also enlightened the gathering on the salient features of the Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013.

"As student life is important, you should not focus you attention on unnecessary things or thoughts, but concentrate only on studies and minimise usage of mobile phones," she advised students.

DySP Chandrashekhar welcomed the gathering, while K Srikanth, PCI delivered the vote of thanks.
PSI B Manmohan Rao compered the programme.

Ramesh, principal, Government PU College, Udupi and others were present.