To tackle agrarian movements, SOP is being formulated by cops

New Delhi: To tackle agrarian movements, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is being formulated, sources said. A committee comprising of 14 senior officers across India including a Special CP rank officer from Delhi Police has been constituted to formulate the SOP.

Sources told Millennium Post that the committee will formulate SOP to tackle agrarian movements comprising, inter alia methodology to engage with farmer bodies and their leadership, build rapport for positive intervention plan and coordinate with other agencies, departments and deliberate on an innovative mechanism to engage with the media, especially the social media.

According to a memorandum of National Police Mission (NPM) under the aegis of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, a format for collecting data and information in respect of major agrarian movements across the states and union territories was circulated. DsGP and Commissioners of Police of all the states and union territories were requested to furnish data in the given format.

"In all, nine states (Chhatisgarh, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh) responded with data, while five other states (Manipur, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar and Telangana) and two UTs (Goa and A&N Islands) sent nil reports. We have not received any response from the remaining states and UTs," reads the memorandum of NPM which was sent to all police.

Sources said that details of suggestions and recommendations received from the states and UTs was sent separately to all members of the SOP committee.

Last year, thousands of farmers from across the nation are headed for the Ramlila ground to press for their demands for higher minimum support prices for their crops and farm-loan waiver, among others.

The police record claimed that as many as 8,594 programmes held in Delhi in 2018. Police claimed that 1,568 demonstrations were reported in the city whereas 451 processions held in 2018. "As many as 608 meetings took place in different parts of the city. There were around 406 rallies and marches in National Capital whereas 5,541 dharnas, strike and other programme took place in 2018," data added.