Udupi: Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Hemanth Nimbalkar said that ‘policing’ meant enforcing the law and bringing anti-social elements to justice and ‘not creating panic among innocent people’.

Addressing 95 cadets at the passing-out-parade of 11th batch of Armed Reserve Police, the IGP said that the police should change their attitude and approach in ensuring public safety.

Stressing the need for sensitising the police force, the IGP said that lately police atrocity cases were increasing. He urged the police not to be egotistical and behave decently with the public. The rifle, revolver and lathi are not to meant to threaten innocent people. Rather, they are meant to safeguard society. “Offenders should be punished and not the innocent,” the IGP added.

Police have many responsibilities. “The police force must strive to create a peaceful society and not a stressful society. It is a 24X7 job. Officer must be always ready to solve innocent citizens’ problems,” the senior officer added.

He called upon the cadets to work hard to eliminate deep rooted fear of the police in the minds of people. “Policing should be people friendly. The aggrieved should be treated with compassion,” the IGP pointed out. Showing humanitarian consideration is essential, even if the police cannot fully address society’s problems. “There is no harm in lending a patient ear to the aggrieved,”he maintained.

He called on the cadets to remain physically fit to carry out their responsibilities. Out of 95 passing out cadets, 44 are from Belagavi, 41 from Hubli-Dharwad, six from Bengaluru and four from Tumkuru respectively.