Here when the whole world was watching “Satyamev Jayate”, I was going through the same inscription written down for 11th(actually i don't remember the real count) time in last 9 Days on the walls of India’s one so called public office "The Police Station (Will be using P.S for the same)".
It was just 9 days back when there was a theft
in my house and I rushed to Police station to Lodge an FIR. For me the FIR was
an important piece of document which needed to be submitted to my office (As
among the theft items, my office laptop was one liability).
At first the officers seemed very
helpful, we had a visit by one of their representatives to get the scene visit
on the very same day, but next it was a horrific experience for the last 9
days. Instead of an official FIR they just received one of my application (they
did stamped it but with just an insignia, god know who put the insignia), but
didn't issue any FIR. They asked me to visit next day.
Next it was the IIC (Inspector in
charge) whom I met and requested for the FIR, but he asked me to meet another
person (Let he be person X), Mr. X as it is in the Bollywood movies, didn’t
seemed friendly nor indeed he was. And he started grilling me (I was thinking
did I took marijuana or was I out of sense, did I steal my laptop myself, but
no came to reality and kept the request on). Mr. X was kind enough and let his
rant out. He says, there are jus 4 people took look after all incidence and it
is tough for them to work on each issue ( Now that indeed is a problem, but how
was I to solve it, request to department to recruit more people, too much of
unemployed men there.). Finally Mr. X took the request, and had to submit
another application (No receiving this time, but yes I kept one copy with me),
but still no FIR was issued, Mr X took my number and assured me to give a
call next day to get the FIR.
Like all same old story goes, I waited and
waited for the call till I was off with my office work for the day. Post my
office work I visited the P.S and visited the office, and found only new faces.
I was asked to visit late evening to meet the IIC or Mr. X.
Again I make another effort after
an hour in the evening but no one was present, so finally gives a call to my
journalist friend who interacts with the IIC and ask me to rush to PS. (uffff,
I thought now it is all over, alas nothing of that sort). The PS seems more
cheesed off, and denies providing the FIR. Just when I was out of the PS and
giving a call to my Journalist friend, I get a call from one of the
subordinates of the IIC, to meet him. I rush to the PS with a relief. This time
he calls me in a separate room and here the whole story is unfolded by him.
In his words.
“I can’t register all cases in
FIR, I have a target and if all crimes are registered and kept unsolved, I will
face axe of the system. I too got a target of crime to solve ratio, and face
problem for my job. Give me 4-5 days of time, we will track your mobile (yes
mobile was also an item stolen, and my IMEI number was provided), and after
that I will issue an FIR (he will definitely as it will be a successful case if
mobile is tracked).
He
literally requested for some time, I like a moron and idiot got concerned for
him and his job and thought nothing going to happen giving him 4-5 days and
gave him the time gap. But some where deep within my soul I was unhappy for
this time Gap given. Meanwhile Yes, I have informed my Office and they asked me
for the FIR (as laptops were insured), so did my brother needed the same (yes
the stolen item also included his laptop).
Again after almost 5 days, I
visit the PS (8 days of the incident). And there I don’t find anyone all new
faces yet again. The people say the IIC will come in evening. So visit the same
under the thunderous sky in late evening. Here another in charge, I guess SI,
ask me to meet another person (let name him Mr Y), after calling him (yes Mr
Y’s number is shared by this SI). I return home and after sometime call back
the number of Mr Y. Surprise of
Surprise, I hear the IVRS “The number you have called don’t have incoming
facility”. I try it umpteenth of time and every time gets the same response by
the IVRS. So finally I decide to visit the PS again at about 9 pm. Here I do
find Mr. Y, and ask him for the FIR after narrating the story. Mr. Y assures he
will provide me the same, but only next day at 11 am. He gives the excuse as
the PS has no power (yes the thunder storm resulted in power disruption in many
places in Bhubaneswar, this provides another proof that our PS don’t have power
back up even), and I buy his excuse and leaves for another day.
And next day that is today, I
make a visit on the scheduled time, and look for Mr. Y. After some search in
the PS I do find him. I think myself a relaxed person, and ask him for the FIR.
The response brings me back to square one. He says he is not authorized to
issue any FIR only an IIC can. Shell shocked I make a visit to the IIC.
After a minute wait, I do get a
chance to meet the IIC and received shock of my life, the way he talked.
The Conversation:
Me: sir
namaskar, came for the FIR.
He: Yes, you are
giving a hajri( reporting) daily, yesterday you were here, again today, I have
asked you to come after 5-7 days.
Me: Sir I am
here after 5 days. I need the FIR for my company.
He: no go back,
I won’t give you any FIR, I asked you to come after 5-7 days.
Me: it is 9th
day today of the incident.
He: 9 days or 90
days, I am not going to give any FIR, do whatever you want to do, get out.
Me: Ok
Now I am back, and thinking
1) What did I do wrong?
2) Don’t I have a fundamental right to
register an FIR
3) I guess the crime increases after
this, as the criminals are well aware that petty crimes are not registered
even.
4) Who is the fault the PS or the
System.
5) The way I was treated, is all
common citizen treated the same way? How many of the crimes get unnoticed or
even unregistered.
6) Is this is the reason why people are
scared to visit the PS. Does not this increase the gap between the civil
society and the police (who in its numerous add keep asking the people to help
them in fighting crime).
7) Have the public machinery turned it’
eyes blind. Have the individuals working for public given up their pledge to
garnish promotions and accolades (low crime registered, that too only solvable
ones will be shown as a positive development for the IIC).
This fact I am writing is not
just to highlight my plight( yes it does to some extent), nor I want to build
any sympathy ,but to build a connect with what may be happening to millions of
Citizens who must be day and night running after the PS to just get one
fundamental right of their FIR registered.
I just wish platforms like SMJ
(Satyamev Jayate), which public built a trust on, also highlights the apathy of
millions of people getting denied of justice.
I wish some individual crime
journalist turns it guns up and bring the whole machinery of Policing into
question. They question the unnoticed or the unregistered cases, however small
or trivial it may sound. Incidents are incident.
Many may advice, do this, do
that. They will have their versions of suggestions. Many definitely are
commendable. I may implement one and get the FIR. But who is going to help the
other millions?
Note: I don’t have any grudge to
any individual, so have deliberately removed the names of Individual (few I
don't actually know even). My question is more to the system.
