The metamorphosis of policing in the capital city
From tackling communal violence and left-wing extremism to confronting terrorism, cybercrime and narcotics, Hyderabad’s police force has evolved with the city. Over five decades, a single Commissionerate has grown into a sophisticated four-Commissionerate system backed by specialised units, advanced technology, intelligence networks and citizen-focused policing
The metamorphosis of policing in Hyderabad over the past five decades is a narrative of significant structural, technological, and cultural transformation. Initially, the city was served by a single Police Commissionerate, tasked with maintaining law and order and public safety. However, the city's evolution necessitated a more robust and specialized policing structure.
The late 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of communal violence and prolonged curfews, prompting the creation of additional law-and-order zones and police stations. This was followed by the challenges of left-wing extremism in the late 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, leading to the formation of specialized units like the Special Intelligence Branch, Greyhounds, Counter-Intelligence Cell, and OCTOPUS.
The global IT boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s further reshaped Hyderabad's policing needs, leading to the creation of the Cyberabad Commissionerate and the establishment of a multi-Commissionerate model. The formation of Telangana in 2014 and the subsequent integration of several urban local bodies further expanded the policing landscape, culminating in the overhaul of the three-Commissionerate arrangement into four distinct Commissionerates.
The modernization program has seen a significant increase in manpower, upgrades in mobility, infrastructure, and technology, and a shift towards citizen-centric policing. This transformation has been marked by an emphasis on empathy, accessibility, and 24/7 availability, with a focus on enhancing response times and ensuring transparency and accountability.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Hindu's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
