Top brass of police hold meet to bolster security in hospitals

Kolkata: Following Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's instruction to tighten the security system in state-run hospitals across the city, Commissioner of Police (CP), Kolkata, Anuj Sharma called a high-level meeting with all divisional Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Assistant Commissioners (ACs) on Tuesday afternoon, while DC combat force, Colonel Nevendera Singh was made the nodal officer of security system in the hospitals.

According to sources, several points were discussed during the meeting. It has been decided that the number of CCTV cameras will be increased at hospital premises for better surveillance. The link to the cameras will be connected to the screens at the DC's chamber.

On Tuesday, Singh was given charge of the nodal officer between hospital authorities and police. After obtaining the new charge, Singh went to NRS Medical College and Hospital in the afternoon and met with hospital superintendent Saurabh Chattopadhyay and principal Saibal Kumar Mukherjee.

During the meeting, the hospital authorities were asked to increase the height of the boundary walls. It was also decided that extra police force will be deployed outside the hospital gate during night.

Police forces will be deployed in the emergency wards as well, while the strength of police force in the hospital outposts will be increased soon as well.

It has also been decided that six Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) ranked officials will supervise the activity and operations of the outposts in the hospitals across the city. Divisional DCs will perform their task as they used to earlier.

Apart from deploying police forces, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was requested by Kolkata Police to provide a helpline number, which will be used to accept complaints by the hospital authorities and doctors. On Tuesday, BSNL provided a number (18003458246) for the purpose of medical security. Any information regarding security of the hospital can be conveyed to Kolkata Police using the toll free number.

A special e-mail address will also be created by Kolkata Police, where complaints can be submitted. Sources informed that being the nodal officer, Singh will be in constant touch with the hospitals and the state Health department, regarding security matters. He will also scrutinise the security system in medical colleges and hospitals to check whether any more developments or rectifications need to be done.

During the meeting, Additional Commissioner of Police (Addl CP) I Jawed Shamim, Addl CP III Supratim Sarkar and Joint CP (crime) Praveen Tripathi were present, along with the divisional DCs.