RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday said the district collectors and SPs should keep a tab on law and order. Visible policing should be seen in the state.

He was addressing the two-day Collector and Superintendent of Police Conference, held at New Circuit House, Raipur.

Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Subrat Sahoo, Divisional Commissioner, Inspector General of Police, Collectors and Superintendents of Police of all districts were present.

Emphasizing, he said the SPs of all the districts should focus on visible policing. They themselves should go on night patrol. Women patrolling PCR vehicles would soon be started in the state to check crimes against women.

Director General of Police Ashok Juneja spoke on crime status in the state and action taken against the chit fund companies, one of the priorities of state government.

Baghel asked police officers instead of giving statistics, that they should not be restricted to prevent crimes by taking action only at a small level. They should execute a concrete action plan.

Registering displeasure over slow action in chit fund cases, he said swift action should be taken to attach the properties of companies in other states, through courts.

Raising concern over increasing narcotics smuggling in the state, Baghel said a strict vigil is required within and borders of state so that no smuggling takes from bordering states. The police apart from seizures should concentrate to get to the root of the drug network. Necessary coordination with neighboring states at every level be established to tackle this menace. Immediate action be taken in violent incidents caused by consumption of intoxicants.

Bringing up a question before the collectors and SPs, Baghel said why intoxicants are easily available. Take such actions to ensure there is no availability. Strictest action should be taken against online gambling.

Underlining the need for prevention of crimes against women and children, he said women and children should be protected from crimes. Similarly, in cases of crimes against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the victim should be provided aid expeditiously.

He asked for swift action on the incidents of knife-attack. With such criminals, a zero tolerance policy should be adopted. He called to work cautiously to maintain peace and order in the state.