Team Herald
PANJIM: After facing flak for deploying advanced trained IRB policemen on traffic duty, senior police officers have said these policemen are “not just assisting the traffic cops but are functioning as first respondents too”.
“They (IRB cops) are deployed with a motive and similarly we involved them in traffic duties. They are a part of strategic police planning because they are the first responders to a scene of crime. They are here to meet contingency and save time during any need/emergency,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Vimal Gupta told Herald.
Traffic SP Devesh Kumar also allayed apprehensions that IRB personnel are on permanent traffic duty, claiming they are roped-in only during the heavy-duty phase like the peak tourist season.
“The IRB personnel assist the traffic personnel as and when the need arises. We seek their assistance depending on the requirement like huge inflow of tourists and vehicular movement, and during major events. They are not permanently attached with the traffic cell,” Kumar explained. “The IRBians are trained in traffic management before their temporary deployment,” he added.
Gupta went on to add that IRB personnel are also attached with the Police Control Room (PCR), check-posts and beach patrolling. “They are the first responders and their deployment is just not done at random locations. We need trained personnel, therefore, their deployment is set with a motive,” the officer reiterated.
“When there is a need or problem, actual or anticipated, they are deployed.” The personnel are also deployed at specialised pickets by the district police to maintain law and order.
Another senior officer said that ‘IRB form a special auxiliary unit of trained police personnel to assist and aid regular police units in rendering special tasks of law and order upkeep and/or to undertake anti-Naxal or counter-insurgency operations’. “Their training is not only in the State police training centre but also in specialised training institutes in other states,” the officer added.
The total staff strength of Goa Traffic Police is around 600 from constabulary to SP rank, while another 300 home guards are deployed to assist the traffic personnel. Kumar, however, said the home guards’ strength varies on a daily basis.
