In a bid to reduce the gap between the minority community and the police, Rakesh Maria has decided to learn Urdu.
In a bid to reduce the gap between the minority community and the police, anti-terrorism squad (ATS) chief Rakesh Maria (pictured right) has decided to learn Urdu.
Under this unique initiative, during summer vacation, 15 college students belonging to the minority community will visit the ATS office to learn Marathi from the policemen and in exchange, they will teach Urdu to the men in khaki.
“We have selected five officers and 10 constables who will be teaching Marathi to the 15 students and after one month, they will teach Urdu to our men. Urdu is a beautiful language and I will love to learn it,” said Maria.
While the pilot programme will include 15 students, later the initiative will include more school and college students. “We will be talking to schools and colleges to participate in this programme,” said an ATS officer.
The ATS had organised four meetings with doctors, teachers, engineers and NGOs from the minority community to work out a solution. “We discussed how they perceive the police and how can we change this perception. We also discussed how the young generation can help us bridge the gap,” said Maria.
According to ATS officers, there are only two ways to defeat terrorism: First, by busting sleeper terror cells and second by changing the mindset of the educated youth.
“We have found that terror groups target educated people because they want advanced modus operandis. We also have to change the wrong impression of the police which most of the youth in the minority community have,” said a senior police officer.
“It’s necessary to arrest members of terrorist groups but along with that we have to stop intelligent and educated people from joining such cells,” said Maria.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}