CM flags off 61 vehicles for highway patrolling and prevent human trafficking

Raipur: Chief minister Bhupesh flagged off 61 new
vehicles for highway patrolling and prevention of human trafficking, in a brief
programme held at his residence office here today. This will help police take
prompt action. These include 15 vehicles dedicated for highway patrolling, 24
vehicles for anti-human trafficking unit and 22 vehicles for maintaining law
and order.

The officials informed that under the highway
patrolling system, a total of 15 new Ertiga vehicles have been made available to
ensure safety of common citizens on highways, smooth traffic movement and to provide
immediate relief and assistance in road accidents. These vehicles will operate
in Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Gariyaband, Kabirdham, Bilaspur, Korba, Janjgir-Champa,
Raigarh, Surguja and Bastar (Jagdalpur). The well-equipped highway patrolling vehicles
are stationed at a predetermined place and systematically patrol in the predetermined
road segments of the national highway. On receiving information regarding
accident in the segment concerned, the Highway Patrol immediately rush to the
accident spot and make proper arrangements to send the victim to the nearest
hospital for immediate medical assistance. They also provide necessary
assistance by reporting the incident to the jurisdictional police station. They
also maintain law and order till the arrival of the local police force. They
keep the spot safe till the police station in-charge and the staff reaches the
spot and keep traffic normal on the highway.

Earlier, a total of 30 highway patrolling vehicles in
the state were operating in Raipur, Durg, Mahasamund, Rajnandgaon, Balodabazar,
Dhamtari, Balod, Bemetara, Korea, Jashpur, Surajpur, Balrampur, Kanker and
Kondagaon districts. As many as 15 new highway patrol vehicles have been
purchased from road safety item for Rs.1 crore 19 lakh 6 thousand 977, said the
officials.

Similarly, in a bid to strengthen the system for
combating human trafficking, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit is actively
working on rescue of victims of human trafficking, providing proper care and counselling
to the victims, organizing training workshops for police and other department
officials concerned, maintaining records of crime related to human trafficking,
establishing inter-state coordination and conducting public awareness campaign to
fight human trafficking.

Earlier, one four-wheeler, motorcycle and other
necessary resources were provided to 11 districts of the state including
Jashpur, Surguja, Korba, Raigarh, Bilaspur, Janjgir-Champa, Balodabazar,
Mahasamund, Bastar, Narayanpur and Balrampur for prevention of human
trafficking. This year, new vehicles worth Rs 3.60 crore have been provided in
all the districts of the state under the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ for the establishment
of new Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and strengthening of the pre-established
AHTUs. A total of 24 light vehicles and 46 motor cycles and other resources
have been made available to each pre-established and newly formed anti-human
trafficking unit using this fund, the officials said.

Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, Manendragarh MLA Dr.
Vinay Jaiswal, Additional Chief Secretary Home Subrat Sahoo, DGP Ashok Juneja,
Additional DGP Pradeep Gupta, IG Dr. Anand Chhabra, IG SC Dwivedi, SP Raipur
Prashant Agrawal, Assistant Inspector General of Police Sanjay Sharma were
among those present on the occasion.