India
oi-PTI
Uttar
Pradesh
Police
chief
Vijay
Kumar
has
asked
officers
to
follow
the
‘panchang’ or
the
Hindu
almanac
for
better
policing.
In
a
circular
sent
to
all
senior
police
officers
on
August
14,
the
director
general
of
police
(DGP)
asked
them
to
keep
track
of
the
waxing
and
waning
phases
of
the
moon,
saying
criminals
are
likely
to
be
more
active
during
the
darker
nights.
Kumar
also
advised
people
to
be
more
cautious
on
such
nights.
He
asked
the
officers
to
conduct
policing
on
the
basis
of
the
‘chandrama
ki
kalayein’
(phases
of
the
Moon).
The
Hindu
calendar
is
the
easiest
way
to
know
the
phases
of
the
moon,
Kumar
said.
Talking
in
detail
on
the
circular,
Kumar
in
a
video
released
on
Monday,
said
it
is
necessary
for
the
general
public
to
know
about
the
phases
of
the
moon
so
that
they
too
can
take
necessary
precautions.
Using
a
chart
showing
the
time
when
the
moon
sets
and
rises
on
a
given
date,
Kumar
said,
“Sometimes
the
night
is
partially
dark
and
sometimes
it
is
totally
dark.
The
public
should
know
so
that
they
can
be
alert
and
the
police
should
also
know
so
that
they
can
be
more
alert
at
that
time.”
Describing
the
phases
of
the
moon
through
the
chart,
he
said,
“On
August
8,
there
was
complete
darkness
from
6
pm
to
12
midnight…
criminals
can
work
actively
(on
such
nights).
After
this,
on
August
16,
it
was
the
time
of
‘Amavasya’ when
the
moon
rises
at
6
am
and
sets
at
6
pm.
This
means
that
on
August
16,
it
was
completely
dark
all
night.
At
that
time
the
whole
night
was
very
favourable
for
the
criminals.”
The
DGP
said
it
will
be
a
dark
night
again
on
August
24.
From
12
midnight
to
6
am,
there
will
be
darkness
during
which
criminals
do
their
work,
he
said.
“To
know
when
it
will
be
a
dark
night,
Hindu
Panchang
can
be
used,”
he
said.
“The
panchang
can
tell
about
Amavasya,
‘Shukla
Paksha’ and
Saptami
of
Krishna
Paksha
(darker
nights)
when
police
have
to
be
extra
vigilant.
This
was
the
purpose
of
this
circular.
It
is
also
useful
for
the
public.
Everyone
should
know
when
criminals
can
be
active
around
him,”
he
said.
