There are several community initiatives of Kolkata Police looked after by its Community Policing Wing. SAMPARK is one of them. Students’ Assembly for Meaningful and Positive Approach Regarding Kolkata abbreviated as SAMPARK strives to connect the younger citizens of Kolkata with the police force by educating them of the various ranks and caps, and functions of the police in the city. SAMPARK is supported by FACES (Friends of Alumni of Colleges, Educational institutes and Schools), an NGO. “This initiative helps in condence building among the students and also educates them on how to provide information to the cops and how to handle an emergency situation” said Manas Ojha, Ofcer in Charge, Community Policing Wing.
The idea of a police-children interactive programme has emerged around last decade inline with the one prevailing in the United Kingdom under which children interact with the cops in a friendly manner. The rst excursion under SAMPARK was conducted at Bowbazar Police Station in 2009. The assembly of students was taken to a police, trafc guard and also of the Trafc Control Room to inform them about the types of jobs police has to perform to maintain peace and ensure safety and security to the citizens.
Almost every month, students from several schools are invited for the excursion. Imran Zaki, president of FACES, said: “It is amazing how this initiative have its desire deffect among children. They are interacting with police without inhibition.” In March this year 114 students accompanied by their teachers from ve schools- Maheshwari Balika Vidyalaya, Marwari Balika Vidyalaya, Lee Memorial Girls’ High School, Lore to Day School, Sealdah and Our Lady of Providence Girls’ High School joined in Taltala Police Station where they were given the basic idea of how a police station functions, what is the First Information Report (FIR) or General Diary (GD) and what are the difference 
between the two. They were also shown the lock-ups, the women police station, as well as the armoury. This played a perfect fodder to their next stop, which was the Police Training School (PTS). There the DC (Combat Force) Lt.Colonel Nevendera Singh Paulin formed them about their activities to keep the city normal in all possible manners.
There the students became acquainted with the Specialised Force of Kolkata Police who displayed their special weapons, and how they function. The commandos showed them how they meet emergency situations and deal in an unnatural circumstance. Ofcers of Bomb Disposal Squad showed students technical equipments and educated them about identifying any unattended objects. They were then briefed by the Ofcers and men of Disaster Management Group who showed their skills in free climbing and showed various equipments they use during rescue operations. The highest point of attraction in PTS was denitely the Dog Squad. The students were clearly over enthusiastic seeing the four legged friends.
After their visit to the Police Training School, the visitors were taken to the Headquarters of Kolkata Police, Lalbazar, where they were taken to the Cyber PS to provide an overview of various cyber crimes. The ofcers told the students how to avoid from being victims of such crimes. Before the conclusion of the day’s journey, there was a Q & A session with senior ofcers of Kolkata Police. Several questions were addressed by Sujay Chanda, Jt. Commissioner of Police (Establishment).
By Our Correspondent
