UP Police officer encourages cops to learn English, read newspapers

Uttar Pradesh Police has asked the cops in Balrampur district to learn English language, as reported by news agency. Issuing an order in the matter, Balrampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Dev Ranjan Verma has asked the officers to read English newspapers and submit leave applications in English as well. As the order, classes and workshops will be organised at several police stations,  the district headquarters and the police lines over the past week to enlighten the cops to learn English. The district police cops have started buying books and dictionaries in order to learn English.

But reportedly, a section of senior police officials have stated that they do not have any information about the order. Speaking in the matter, Additional Director General Law and Order PV Ramasastry said that he was not aware of the orders and that the decision was taken at the district level. DIG Devipatan division Rakesh Singh also stated that he did not have any knowledge about the decision.

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"There are no such instructions from the higher level. Whether the use of English is important or not, it is a policy decision and the Police Recruitment Board, the DGP and others assess what skills our personnel need. I cannot say anything more about this," he said.

Justifying his decision, SP Ranjan Verma stated that the initiative has been taken to make the cops have a basic knowledge about the English language, emphasising on increasing cyber-crime and surveillance information received in English. He added that police officers make mistakes in understanding court decisions in English following which he took the initiative. 

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"The reason behind this initiative is that all cyber-crime and surveillance information is received in English and the cops need to have a basic working knowledge of the language. I have seen policemen making blunders in understanding court decisions in English. Following this, I decided to take the initiative to ensure police personnel learn, at least, basic English," he said as per the news agency. 

Asserting that he check the applications of the cops and correct their language, he added that the police constables have started using Google for help while writing their leave applications.

I want them to read English newspapers, buy dictionaries and I will be going to various police stations to ensure this," he said.

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(With agency inputs)