Police beyond reach as wrong numbers displayed

Satinder Pal Singh

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Dera Bassi, November 6

The Dera Bassi police have displayed incorrect contact numbers on the signboards here in the town, making it a herculean task for people in distress to seek help. Ironically, the department has been making efforts to create a bond with the people. Old numbers have been displayed at the Dera Bassi police station, police posts and roadsides.

The police have gone in for a change in the numbering system of their mobile phones for the second time in less than four months.

The signboards have been installed to define the jurisdiction of the police stations/posts to make them easily accessible to people on the highways. Each of these boards also display the phone numbers of the station house officers and other senior police officials concerned so they can be contacted in case of an emergency.

The boards mention 9465000555 as the contact number of the superintendent of police (D) office in Mohali, but its connects the callers to a commandant’s office. The contact numbers of the DSP office at Mubarikpur, SHO of Dera Bassi and a head constable too are incorrect as the response the callers get is — This number does not exist.

It been a week since the contact numbers have been changed, but the signboards haven’t been updated so far.

In case of an emergency on the Chandigarh-Ambala highway where accidents are a common sight, commuters, especially those hailing from other cities and states, may find it difficult to contact the local police.

When contacted, Purushottam Bal, DSP, Dera Bassi, said, “A new series of mobile numbers has been allotted to officials. I will ask the officials concerned to get the signboards updated with correct contact numbers at the earliest.”