Tourist police, app launched in Arunachal to help visitors

The Arunachal Pradesh Police on Friday launched the Arunachal Pradesh Tourist Police and the Arunachal Suraksha App to help the citizens during emergencies.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu launched the tourist police and the app at a function held at Dorjee Khandu Convention Centre here, as part of the 46th Raising Day celebration of the Arunachal Pradesh Police, which began on Friday, and would culminate on November 8.

After launching the app, Khandu said that it is an effort under Prime Minister's Digital India initiative to make the state police more efficient.

"The app will drastically decrease the crime rate in the state and the tourists visiting the state will feel secured with the tourist police around," Khandu said.

The state government is making efforts to woo tourists to the state through several initiatives, he added.

"The inflow of tourist to the state has increased significantly since 2011," the chief minister said.

The chief minister said he hoped that the tourist police will discharge their duties effectively and with dedication.

Users can download the Suraksha App and through it can know the nearest police station and use a button to make direct call to police, an official said.

The mobile app, first of its kind for the state police, would help users to find the nearest police stations and the contact details.

It has also the capacity to send SOS message to emergency contacts.

One can send a message through, by pressing the 'Save Me' button and the message would be sent to the nearest police station.

Chief Secretary Satya Gopal while giving details of various measures undertaken by the state government for modernisation of police, informed that the state government has already sanctioned 32 posts for deputy superintendent of police, 80 posts for inspectors and 50 other posts.

"The Centre has already sanctioned an amount of Rs 156.20 crore for establishment of 11 new police stations along with upgradation of existing nine police stations in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts to manage law and order more effectively," Gopal added.