Pramesh S Jain
Despite repeated assurances by the City Police Chief a “people-friendly”approach,a local resident was forced to wait over two weeks just to get his stolen motorcycle complaint officially registered.
K Ramesh,a 57-year-old private firm employee residing in Prashanthnagar in Vijayanagar,was left frustrated and helpless after his scooter was stolen from outside his office on May 28.
He came out during lunch and found the scooter which was locked and parked outside the office gate was not there.He searched desperately in and around the areas before approaching the police .
When he approached Vijayanagar police after hearing the story,they told him to go to Govindarajnagar police citing jurisdictional issue .
When he rushed to the Govindarajnagar police station , he was asked to “come back after three days as officials concerned were not available .
He waited for the three days and went back and the police told him to come back after one week since the police personnel are busy with stampede case and bandobast duty .
What followed was a 15-day ordeal involving multiple visits,repeated explanations,and vague assurances,but no FIR.
The police even asked him to revised the complaint to make it missing rather than stolen.
“It was disheartening.Every time I went,I was told something new—‘system down’,‘officer on special duty and come tomorrow’.If this is people-friendly policing,I don’t know what unfriendly would look like,”Ramesh said .
The complaint was finally registered on June 13 after media inquiries and intervention by a local activist group.By then,critical time had been lost,diminishing the chances of recovery.
“I have my own doubts that the vehicle can be recovered but my concern is that if the vehicle is misused we will be in trouble“,Ramesh said adding that it was his office vehicle given to him.
It was a old vehicle renovated for Fitness certificate and spent Rs.35,000, few days ago before it was stolen.
It may be recalled that senior police officials including the Director General and Inspector General of Police,city police commissioner directed the police to be people friendly and victim centric approach.But the ground reality is different .
