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G R SINDHU
Chennai, Aug 29:

        In a new initiative policemen on patrol in Chennai are asked general knowledge questions from the police control room to check if they are alert during the middle of the night.

        The questions are sent out from 2 am on police radio and correct answers get cash rewards from the commissioner's office.

        Night patrols begin at 9 pm and last till daybreak. Chennai city is divided into four zones, each headed by a deputy commissioner of police, two assistant commissioners and five inspectors, senior police officer said.

        'This is just a small initiative to keep the policemen alert. Few policemen have clicked the answers right and bagged the cash awards of Rs 500,' he said.

        'We are very specific about the visibility of the police, so no matter how dark the night is, police stations are hives of activity, so the common man can snore in peace', he said.

        This method was first adopted in Chengai East district by an assistant superintendent who would recite Thirukural, and the next day policemen who were on night patrol should write the kural on the notice board at the police station.

        Some of the questions that were put forth to the patrol policemen included what is the lowest sex ratio as per the 2001 Census?, What's does P T denotes in P T Usha's name?, Name the country that doesn't have a newspaper?.

        This initiative, a first of its kind in the city, would go a long way in keeping them alert besides testing their IQ.