In a remarkable achievement for Jharkhand police, the Chowka police station in the Seraikela-Kharsawan district has been ranked as the fourth best police station in the entire country by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The station also secured the top position within the state, marking a significant milestone in community policing and effective law enforcement.
Parameters of Excellence: What Set Chowka Apart
The prestigious All India Ranking, the report for which was released on Saturday, is based on a rigorous assessment of multiple parameters. The MHA evaluation team judged police stations across India on criteria including timely crime control, swift filing of charge sheets, successful investigations, and effective handling of crimes against women. Community engagement, proactive crime prevention initiatives, and courteous behaviour towards local citizens were also key factors.
Beyond these, the survey incorporated direct feedback from the public, the quality of digital records maintained, and the overall infrastructure of the police station. The disposal rate of complaints and FIRs, along with the charge-sheet framing rate and the professional skill of the personnel, were critically assessed by an independent agency commissioned by the MHA.
A Proud Moment for Jharkhand Police
Expressing immense satisfaction with the national recognition, Seraikela-Kharsawan Superintendent of Police Mukheh Kumar Lunaya stated that it was a proud moment for the Chowka station officials and the state police force at large. He highlighted that this feat was achieved in competition with nearly 18,000 police stations nationwide.
The SP credited the former station in-charge, Bajrang Mahato, and his team for this accomplishment, as the survey was conducted during May-June when Mahato was leading the thana. The final rankings were determined at the 60th All India Conference of the heads of state police chiefs (DGsP/IGsP), held in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, from November 28 to 30.
The Top Performers and Chowka's Local Context
The top three ranks in the MHA's All India Ranking were secured by police stations in Ghazipur (Delhi), Pahargaon (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), and Kavital (Karnataka), respectively.
Situated on National Highway-33 on the Tata-Ranchi stretch and close to the Dalma hills, the Chowka police station's jurisdiction has seen a decline in Maoist influence in recent years. Consequently, the police personnel have been focusing on a different set of challenges, including managing highway accidents, ensuring community security, addressing social stigmas, and monitoring elephant movement in the area.
The MHA stated that the primary objective of this ranking exercise is to encourage better policing standards by fostering healthy competition and identifying best practices that can be replicated to build a more effective and responsive modern police force across India.
