Cuttack: Contrary to the claims of the Commssionerate Police of providing 24×7 service to ensure safety of citizens, most of the police stations in the Millennium City down their shutters after midnight.
While there have been frequent incidents of bombing, firing, robbery and loot, apart from trouble created by jail-returned criminals, the alleged work-shirking by the police has left citizens in the lurch.
Besides, the personnel of PCR vans allegedly remain busy extorting money from bamboo-, cattle- and other illegal item-laden trucks. Sometimes the personnel are seen taking rest under trees instead of doing patrolling.
Meanwhile, the citizens have started mulling over ensuring the security of their areas themselves. “If need be, we will not allow the police to enter our areas. Because we have doubts that policemen themselves are behind rising crimes in the city,” some people alleged.
After the arrest of Dhalasamanta brothers, their alleged links with many policemen had come to light. The call detail record (CDR) seized from the residence of the gangsters has phone numbers of many police officers. Besides, involvement of some very senior officers with the criminals had also come to the fore. Despite this, the police administration is yet to bring changes in their attitude.
While policemen have always been in the news for wrong reasons like turning away complainants, refusing to lodge complaints, dismissing cases and registering cases under sections according to their wish, now they have hit another milestone by shutting down police stations after 12 midnight.
Badambadi police station is one of the major ones in the city. The busiest Badambadi bus terminal comes under its jurisdiction. It’s a known fact that illegal activities are rampant around the bus stand. Therefore, untoward incidents cannot be ruled out at any time. Although passengers are not safe here especially in the night, the cops locking the police station during that time shows how responsible they are.
Similar is the situation of Cantonment police station in the VIP zone. The Chief Justice of Orissa High Court, other judges and senior police and administrative officers reside in the area. But the police station remains closed after midnight. And, the police of Chauliaganj, Lalbag, CDA Phase 2 and Darghabazar are allegedly doing their duties arbitrarily.
“On many occasions, I have taken persons in distress to police stations at night only to find the security setup locked. The personnel of Jagatpur police station lock the gate and go to sleep after midnight. Similar is the situation in Chaulianganj police station. Robbers looted `16 lakh from an ATM machine near the police station recently due to gross negligence of the police,” said Manas Parida, president of Cuttack-Choudwar Development Council.
Orissa Youth Forum president Rohan Mohanty said, “Police personnel function in this area arbitrarily. Some officers and constables have nexus with criminals. They help the anti-social elements in committing various crimes. While the government is providing 24-hour police service to the citizens, why are the policemen locking the police stations?”
Cantonment police station inspector-in-charge (IIC) Biswajit Mohanty said, “There is no question of locking the police station gate. We even intensify security when the number of criminals at the police station is more. Whenever the main gate is locked, we deploy staff there.”
DCP Sanjeev Arora said, “No complainant is being turned away by police stations. I have not received any complaint regarding locking of police stations at night. If I get any such complaint, I will inquire into it and take action accordingly.”
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