Peace committees for old city

Mohalla committees are to be revived by the police in an effort to restore and maintain peace in sensitive localities.

“We will be forming mohalla committees in all areas in the old city. These committees will have representatives from all religions and all sections of society,” said the police commissioner, A.K. Khan.

Mohalla or peace committees have worked well in some parts of the country. They comprise elders from the locality with equal representation from both communities. They interact with the youth and calm things down when there are signs of tension.

“They will also keep vigil at mandaps and processions during Ganesh, Ramzan and other festivals. They also work as volunteers and when they encounter strangers they inform the police. During communal riots and stone pelting incidents, they could play a key role in talking to both groups,” said an official. A previous experiment with peace committees was not a success as members misused their proximity to police officials and created ID cards for themselves.

Mr Khan said curfew will be relaxed in all 25 police station limits on Monday from 8 am to 5 pm as “there is improvement in the situation and in view of people’s need to go out to buy items of daily needs.”