Indo-US cops participate in Gujarat cycle rally to promote unity

AHMEDABAD - Indian and American police officials took part in a cycle rally here on Sunday to promote unity amongst police officials.

The Sardar Patel World Police Unity Tour, organised by the Gujarat Police, was dedicated to freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhai Patel to promote unity amongst police officials as well as commemorate police martyrs.

Mohan Jha, Joint Commissioner, Crime Branch, Gujarat, expressed his enthusiasm in participating in the rally that honoured those who laid their lives for the country.

According to Jha, the rally also generates awareness regarding physical fitness.

“50 persons from Gujarat Police, and about 40 persons from the local public, are going to participate in this tour. The officers are from Additional DGP (Director General of Police) rank to constable rank. We are very excited about this because Sardar Patel has been the architect of the national integration of India,” said Jha.

“And he is also the ‘Architect of Civil Services’, all India Civil Services, to which incidentally I belong- the Indian Police Service. And the purpose of the rally, the purpose of the tour is to bring together the police of different countries,” he added

Thirty United States police officials were expected to participate in the rally to commemorate the 9/11 attacks, but only two reached Ahmedabad to take part in the rally.

Sergeant Patrick Gerrity and his wife Jennifer Gerrity, a detective with the US police, were the only ones participating in the rally.

The withdrawal of others is being said to be due to the terror threat looming in the state.

“I don’t even want to focus on that, I want to keep it positive for today,” Gerrity told reporters here when asked about the absence of other US police officials.

Cyclists started the rally from Sabarmati Ashram and continued to ride till Karamsad, the birthplace of Sardar Vallabhai Patel spanning 90 kilometers. (ANI)