Police personnel attached to zone II are not just chasing criminals, they are also looking after those whom crime affects directly or otherwise - either victims of a crime or relatives of criminals. Realising that victims needed to be rehabilitated as much as offenders, the zone introduced a `Crime Affected Persons' (Caps) programme in mid-September. Aptly titled `Cops for Caps', it is on the lines of a similar programme in the US, where the victims of crime as well as their children, if any, are cared for and put on the road to rehabilitation.

``CAPs was introduced to help the direct victims of crime whosuffer for no fault of theirs. We have roped in NGOs for assistance and co-ordination work because, after all, we have to concentrate on policing,,'' said Dr K Venkatesham, Deputy Commissioner of Police, zone-II, who conceived the programme. The NGOs include India Vision Foundation (IVF), Tata Institute of Social Science's Prayas and Rotary Club.

Already, nine cases are being handled under the programme. Every police station's Public Relations Officer identifies vulnerable cases and then earmarks them for the attention of the NGOs. While the PRO mainly co-ordinates between the victims and the NGOs, the actual rehabilitation is handled by the organisations. Monthly meetings to review the progress of each case are also being planned. Initially operative only in zone-II, the programme will later be implemented in other zones as well.

Though in its initial stages, the programme has already begun to show results. In one case, the detention of one Suraj Kanekar under the Maharashtra Prevention of DangerousPersons Act (MPDA) by the Agripada police nearly sealed the fate of his three school-going children. Especially that of 13-year-old Harish, whose would suffer memory lapses due to a head injury. Through the IVF, the police arranged for counselling and treatment for Harish - who is now showing signs of improvement - as well as ensured schooling for the other two boys.

Similarly, after 16-year-old Akanksha's father, Mohan Joshi, was arrested as a main accused in a liquor poisoning case, she had to quit studying and slog as a domestic help. The `Cops for Caps' scheme ensured that she studied further, and she is now enrolled in the tenth standard.

Devendra Prabhudesai, an activist of IVF, said, ``We are focussing primarily on education. We are still in the process of identifying and reaching out to victims of crimes who need education.'' The police too are keen that more people learn about the scheme and pitch in. ``We want more victims or NGOs to come forward and seek help from the police. We will definitelyhelp and guide them,'' Dr Venkatesham told Express Newsline.