By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: To tackle the rising crime in Bihar, Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Raj is implementing a new initiative known as the ‘Beat Patrolling Team.’ This special team, currently being formed, will be stationed in parks, schools, banks, and crowded areas across the state. The team will be authorised to use firearms if necessary, although the primary objective will be to apprehend criminals before resorting to such measures.
The Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) team, already responsible for handling fire, medical emergencies, law enforcement, and women’s safety, will now play a pivotal role in crime prevention under the beat patrolling system. Equipped with weapons, ERSS-112 vehicles will be stationed in designated locations such as parks and roads early in the morning to ensure public safety.
Patna Police currently operate 180 Dial 112 vehicles, comprising 155 four-wheelers and 55 two-wheelers. Under the beat patrolling system, these vehicles, instead of responding from a single point, will be positioned in crime-prone areas to improve response times, which currently range between 15 and 16 minutes per call.
The new system will prioritise different locations throughout the day. In the mornings, teams will be stationed in parks, moving to schools and colleges once morning routines end. Later in the day, they will patrol banks, and finally, high-traffic markets to prevent crimes such as chain snatching, robberies, and even violent offences.
The effectiveness of the ERSS-112 team in beat patrolling will be closely monitored through the Command and Control Centre in Patna, using GPS technology installed in all vehicles. Each vehicle will have a team of three constables, led by a Sub-Inspector (SI) or Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI). Bihar Police operate a total of 1,283 ERSS-112 vehicles across the state, including those in Patna.
This new system has been developed under the direct supervision of DGP Alok Raj, with the first phase launching in Patna district within the next 7 to 10 days, as per Additional Director General (ADG) reports. Once successful, the beat patrolling initiative will be expanded to other districts across Bihar.
The ERSS-112 team will be armed with the latest small weapons, and if they encounter criminals during their patrol, they have been given full authorisation to fire if necessary, though the primary goal will remain to apprehend offenders without violence.
