The Hindu : Karnataka News : A rookie’s day

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Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

A rookie’s day

When it has become the order of the day to expect the police to accept bribes, there are the usual exceptions to the rule.

A traffic police constable along with an inspector was on a routine checking duty in the central business district recently. When the constable flagged down a truck, the driver slowed down and the cleaner inserted ‘something’ in the constable’s pocket and the truck whizzed away. When the constable took out the “something” it was a Rs. 500 note.

Shaken, the constable, clearly a rookie, approached the inspector and said: “Sir, the cleaner gave me Rs. 500. I am afraid to take this.”

Snatching the crisp note, inspector said: “You are unfit to be in the field.”

Needless to say, the constable was taken off the beat.

Flying high

Even as the debate rages on in Bangalore and elsewhere about the poor connectivity between the city and the international airport which is about 35 kilometres away, one tribe seems to be happy about the closure of the HAL airport and the consequent shifting of operations from HAL to Devanahalli.

Scores of private taxi operators and goods operators have already started rubbing their hands in glee. Many of them say that just airport trip would make their day.

See but don’t touch

On a visit to a commercial centre for a story, this reporter was browsing through a number of video stores in the building. One of the store managers solicitously said: “Please come, madam, please come.”

Obliging, this reporter asked for a particular brand of DVDs. The smile vanished and the manager grumpily said he did not have it. Which was odd because it was obvious he did stock it.

“See there, it is there.”

But no go. Several mumblings later, in a clearly displeased tone, he said: “That is not for sale, madam. We do not give it to customers. It is only to show the police when they come to raid that we sell legal videos.”

ANIL KUMAR SASTRY,

B.S. RAMESH,

SWATHI SHIVANAND

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