Overburdened, long duty hours, no overtime dues, complain cops

Nikhil Bhardwaj

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 16

Even as the cops wield a lot of power in society, spending a few hours with them and indulging in a heart-to-heart talk with them gave an insight into various problems they face in their day-to-day lives. After spending around three hours at the Navi Baradari police station, this Tribune correspondent gives a first person account of the bitter truth cops generally face everyday at the thanas.

As I entered the police station located near Lyallpur Khalsa College, a security guard standing at the entrance gate stopped me and politely asked me the purpose of my visit. When I told him that I wanted to meet the SHO, he allowed me to go in. Before I went further, I began interacting with him. The moment I asked the guard about the working at the police station, he immediately began expressing his problems.

“We have no fixed duty hours. If we join duty at 8 am, we are not sure when we will exit from the police station. Each day we have to work for at least 12 hours. If any VIP duty or any major incident takes place, we are never sure when we will get free. Even though I did postgraduation, I was running around to get a job. It was then that the Punjab Police came my way. All said and done, the tough conditions that we face take the backseat when we receive our handful of salary at the end of the month.”

Meanwhile, some persons entered the thana and when I asked their purpose of the visit, they said they had come to invite the SHO forn a religious event. As we entered the SHO’s room, he was busy on phone. We overheard him saying, “We don’t have an additional force to send as the police station working will get affected.” Before I could put any query, he got another call. This time, it was an unwanted call and he hung the phone in anger. In 10 minutes, the SHO received over a dozen phone calls. Before I could start the conversation, the SHO again received a phone call, as an undertrial had attempted to flee from court and he rushed to the spot.

I moved on to meet the clerical staff. The munshi (clerk) asked about my purpose of visit and I said I wanted to meet the SHO. He replied, “”Sahib has gone to court and he may take over an hour.”

I began conversing with him and one of the cops sitting there recognised me. He said, “Today, the SHO sahib has double duty in the day time and a full-night duty as well and it has, in fact, become a routine feature for most of the cops in the thana. Staff crunch has become a big problem.”

As the cop offered me tea, I asked him, “Does a police station get monthly cash for such tea and other expenses?” Pat came the reply, “No, not even a single penny is being given by our department for such expenses. Sometimes we even buy stationery from our own pocket to keep the police station working in flow. Whenever any guest or senior cops visit the police station, we have to arrange tea, snacks or even food, and we are shelling out our own bucks.” He went on to add, “We have heard that the DGP has recently announced Rs 25,000 as monthly fund for the police station to bear the routine expenses.” The cops added, “Sometimes, we have to spend money from our own pockets to repair the impounded vehicles which have been gathering dust in the police station due to the lack of space. Otherwise, judges take a strict note of it.”

After an hour, the SHO arrived at the place and called me to his office. I directly asked him, “Does your family not ever raise concern over the timing of your job?” He came up with an interesting reply. “Such a problem occurs when a policeman is young, but as years pass by, we become used to this lifestyle and so do our families. Despite being overburdened, when we are able to crack a difficult case and get appreciation, our job becomes so fulfilling,” he admits.

Interestingly, when I was about to leave the SHO’s room, an ASI entered the room. The SHO had been earlier calling him on phone, but had got no reply. The SHO, in an angry tone, asked the ASI, “Can’t you work seriously. I have been calling you repeatedly but you didn’t reply. Who will do the pending court works? the ASI replied, “Sir, my relatives had come, so I had gone to attend them as my wife wanted me to reach home immediately. I left the thana in a hurry, sir”.

As I left the SHO’s room, I met a constable who said, ‘Sadi vi kahdi zindagi hai? Din raat thane ch guzar jandi hai.’ (We hardly live our life. The entire day and night are spent in the police station). He said the Punjab Police should also give overtime to the cops, who spend more time than the permitted duty hours.

He went on to say that political pressure in police working is a blot, which should not be there. He, however, praised the police while recalling the incident outside the court where the Mayor’s son had misbehaved with the gunmen of judges’ couple. “Due to the judges’ intervention, who faced the problem at the parking lot, the Mayor’s son had to spend over eight hours in the police station.” While registering the FIR against the Mayor’s son, we really felt proud as we were treating the Mayor’s son like any other accused and were working as per the law without the fear of any political pressure. If the police working goes out like this, society will become crime-free.”

I left the police station soon after.