TimesView Constable KE Venkatesh is an example of how policing should work on the ground. Night patrolling needs to be strengthened to ensure safety of citizens, especially women, and beat constables need to forge bonds with their neighbourhood and its residents. While more cops like Venkatesh are required, more such rewards are also needed to encourage those in khaki to go the extra mile to secure citizens. At the same time, the force needs to ensure police personnel are not overworked or slogging away without leave. A holiday must not be a prize that comes along once in a way.

KE Venkatesh was rewarded for his bravery and dedication

KE Venkatesh single-handedly chased three bike-borne robbers for 4km and caught one of them

He chased trio for 4km, nabbed one

A police constable set to tie the knot in November has been rewarded with a honeymoon package

The wedding gift includes Rs 10,000 in cash and paid leave for the honeymoon.

Venkatesh had rammed his bike into one of the culprits (sitting on floor with head covered)

BENGALURU: A police constable set to tie the knot in November has been rewarded with a honeymoon package, including boathouse stay in Kerala, by his superiors after he single-handedly chased three bike-borne robbers for 4km and caught one of them.Deputy commissioner of police, Whitefield, Abdul Ahad said KE Venkatesh was rewarded for his bravery and dedication. The wedding gift includes Rs 10,000 in cash and paid leave for the honeymoon. The 30-year-old constable is attached to Bellandur police station.Chosen for a ‘people-friendly police’ initiative, Venkatesh was assigned as a beat constable. He was patrolling Sarjapur main road on his Cheetah bike when he heard a man’s cries around 2.45am on Thursday. “Venkatesh reached the spot — 200 metres away — and saw three men on two motorbikes speeding away. The man standing by the roadside was shouting, ‘kalla kalla’ (thief),” a cop said.Venkatesh gave chase. “After a hot pursuit for 4km, Venkatesh rammed his bike into one of the culprits’ motorcycles and threw the rider on the ground,” the officer said.by his superiorsThe two men on the other motorbike escaped. Venkatesh held onto the biker he had cornered. With the help of Hoysala staff, the constable took him to Bellandur police station. The accused was identified as Arun Dayal, 20. “The victim’s mobile has been taken away by the other two miscreants. We have launched a hunt to nab them,” a senior police officer said.Venkatesh joined the force in 2007 as a constable with HAL police station. He was transferred to Tilaknagar in 2012 and Bellandur station in 2017.In June, constable Chandrakumar C, who caught a chain-snatcher red-handed, was awarded a motorbike, one-month holiday and a cash prize by DCP (west) Ravi D Channannanavar.