PRAYAGRAJ, July 14 -- In a move to ensure quicker detection of robbery, chain-snatching cases and strengthen preventive measures, the Prayagraj Commissionerate has issued a fresh standard operating procedure (SOP), making station house officers (SHOs) personally responsible for investigating such offences. Ajay Pal Sharma, additional commissioner of police, in an order issued recently, directed that all investigations into the above-mentioned cases will be conducted by the concerned SHO. If the probe is assigned to an additional inspector or a sub-inspector, departmental action will be initiated against the SHO concerned. The directions were issued after shortcomings surfaced during a crime review meeting here on July 7. The review found that several robbery and chain-snatching cases remain unsolved and that investigations in many cases were not being conducted in accordance with the prescribed procedure. Under the new SOP, all police station in-charges have been directed to continuously verify the antecedents and current status of criminals who were either named or identified in robbery and chain-snatching cases over the past 10 years. They have also been asked to prepare a detailed action plan for preventing such offences in their respective jurisdictions and submit it to the office of the additional commissioner of police through the deputy commissioner of police within 15 days. The order further mandates that any incident of robbery or snatching must be reported immediately to the police control room and senior officers, followed by intensive barricading and checking operations, said an ACP-level official aware of the development. Investigating officers have also been instructed to examine CCTV footage from the crime scene and surrounding routes to facilitate the prompt arrest of the accused and recovery of the stolen property, he added. Police stations will also be required to submit weekly progress reports on every such case to the office of the additional commissioner of police....