The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : No ‘SIM’ple solution to this problem

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 08, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

No ‘SIM’ple solution to this problem

Some police officers are not depositing their SIMs even on being transferred, writes Marri Ramu

Many are averse to change their mobile phone numbers. Difficulty in informing all the contacts about the new number in short time is cited as the main reason.

With the same plea, some police officers are not changing their mobile phone numbers even after getting transferred. But what is an act of convenience for the police is becoming complete confusion for the public. Moreover, it is having a negative impa ct on the response time of the police.

In the past one year, many Sub-Inspectors and Inspectors were transferred and given new postings. While some were shifted from one police station to another, many more were posted to different wings like Special Branch. A considerable number of them kept back the SIM cards they were given and continue to use the same even after assuming charge of the fresh posting.

The idea is if Nallakunta police station Inspector has a permanent mobile phone number, people of the area remember it and alert in case of any emergency or law and order problem. The mobile phone number of the sector SI concerned is equally important for the public because the former interacts with them directly.

Paper slips with these numbers were pasted at public telephone booths and eateries.

Pamphlets were also distributed so that the police get alerts fast in case of any trouble in the locality. If a SI of Nallakunta police station is transferred to some other wing but continues to keep the same number, people calling on the same number would be confused because he says he is transferred.

Sometimes, the SI might not lift the phone because he is either in court or taking rest after working on night shift. Some law and order problems like communal clashes or crimes like robberies, snatchings and attacks need to be attended at the earliest. By the time the SI explains that he is transferred and alerts the police station staff, the offenders would escape and the damage is done.

This is defeating the purpose of earmarking specific numbers to police stations.

What is the point in allocating a number to a sector SI and publicising among the local residents, if the transferred SI takes away with him or her?

After the attack on actor Rajasekhar, the police higher-ups have decided to better response time. But they are overlooking how actions of their SIs and Inspectors are affecting their initiatives.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh