TheUttarakhandcabinet gave its nod to a proposal to replace the antiquated revenue Police system in the state with regular police, which will be done in a phase-wise manner. Presently, Uttarakhand is the only state in the country where the revenue police, popularly known as ‘patwari police’, operates, wherein the revenue staff double up as police officers in the hill districts.
The demand to replace the revenue police was a long-standing one and matters came to a head during the recent resort murder in Rishikesh where the role of revenue police officials in not registering the case and even siding with the accused, came to Light.
The cabinet decided that the easing out of revenue police would be done first in villages which are close to regular police jurisdiction areas. Thereafter, six new police stations and 20 new police outposts will be set up in revenue police areas which have witnessed a rise in tourism and commercial activities. The six new police stations to be opened in areas earlier controlled by revenue police are: Yamkeshwar in Pauri district, Chham in Tehri, Ghat in Chamoli, Khansaun in Nainital and Deghat and Dhaulcheena in Almora district.