NEW DELHI: On his first visit to northeast Delhi, where riots took place last year, Delhi Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Wednesday said although cops were trained to tackle all sorts of law and order problems and other issues, effectiveness couldn’t be achieved without the support of the society.
He was there to attend a programme, “Ummeed - A step together, towards a better tomorrow”, the theme of which was communal harmony.
At the programme, which was organised by the northeast district police at Shyamlal College, the commissioner felicitated the wife of constable Rattan Lal (42) who died after sustaining critical injuries during the riots.
Cops who were injured in the recent encounter at Khajuri Khas, in which two wanted criminals were killed, were also rewarded at the function.
Addressing the gathering, Asthana said people who disturb peace and harmony should be identified and punished according to the law.
“I was not in Delhi Police when the riots took place. But being a police officer, it was very sad for me to hear about it. It was regrettable that this kind of problem arose in a city like Delhi, where people had almost forgotten riots. No community or religion is bad. People who follow religion are not bad. But in every community, there are some people, whom we call anti-social elements, because of whom the atmosphere gets vitiated,” added the commissioner.
Asthana said police should try to identify such people in society and punish them according to the law.
“Whatever peace has been established in this area, it is due to such programmes. It was established because of such people who believe that violence has no place in the society,” he added.
Highlighting the need for harmony, Asthana said, “We live in an age of technology and economic progress can be attained only in a peaceful environment. We should all strive to live together in harmony.”
He also assured full cooperation from police in establishing such community initiatives and in organising social programmes that strengthen unity and integrity of the nation.
