Travails of High Grounds police

Travails of High Grounds police

The Hindu

The police station is functioning from a shed since March 2005

BANGALORE: Despite being one of the most important police stations in the city, the High Grounds police station is functioning from a vehicle parking shed on the parking lot of the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) since March 2005.

For the staff of the High Grounds police station, protecting the station and its property itself has turned out to be a major job.

Though the High Grounds police provide security to the residences of the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues, the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court and the city's major hotels, the policemen attached to this station have been compelled to work from a dingy shed, which lacks basic facilities.

The High Grounds police station, which was located at High Grounds junction on Palace Road, was demolished for constructing a posh building with corporate assistance. As the construction has been inordinately delayed, the policemen fear that they may have to function from the shed for some more time.

The shed has been built using plywood sheets and tarpaulin. The asbestos and zinc sheet roof of the shed has been damaged at several places. As the shed does not have doors or windows, there is a risk of weapons and other electronic equipment, computers and wireless handsets, being easily stolen, a constable attached to the station told The Hindu.

As there is no lock-up at the station, the criminals can always take a chance and escape. "As we lodge the arrested persons in the shed, we have been putting in extra effort to ensure that they do not escape," the constables said.

"As we have to focus on the security of the station, we have not been able to concentrate on other important issues. Safeguarding the accused has become our priority," the policemen at the station said.

They said there was no safety for the criminals who were lodged in the shed as the rival gangs could easily attack them there. Absence of toilets and lack of drinking water have also compounded the woes of the policemen.

"We take the arrested persons to the toilets inside the racecourse after crossing the busy Racecourse Road. There is a possibility of the accused escaping on the way. Taking them to the toilets also consumes much of our time," the policemen said.

When it rains heavily, the shed leaks, destroying important official documents. The policemen have no proper protection from rain and the worst affected are the sentries. The absence of doors and windows has exposed the policemen to the heavy breeze.

Whenever a meeting is held in the station, the other policemen are made to stand outside the shed as there is no adequate place inside. Women police sub-inspectors and constables have been put to hardship as there are no rest rooms and toilets. "We often keep our shoes and uniforms in the steel boxes, outside the shed," they said.

When contacted, Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) Gopal B. Hosur said the construction of the High Grounds police station was under way and it would be completed in a couple of months.