Struggling to keep up with the times

Struggling to keep up with the times

Though Basaveshwaranagar has turned into a bustling commercial locality, its police personnel operate from a temporary shed

MK Madhusoodan. Bangalore
Basaveshwaranagar has always been considered a very sophisticated area, where crimes seldom occur. But a couple of murders in the recent past have given rise to apprehensions that the locality may finally be turning unsafe.
The Basaveshwaranagar police station covers an area of four square kilometres – ranging from Chord Road in the east to ring road in the west, and Pipeline Road in the north to 80-Feet-Road in the south. "We have been able to keep a check on criminals in the area, especially ones coming from other areas. Many of them have been eliminated by their own rivals, who are now cooling their heels in jail. We have also been able to prevent crimes from happening," police inspector HS Parameshwara said.
Of the 451 criminal cases registered in the police station last year, two were murders and five were preparation for dacoity by rowdies. Also, as many as 99 two-wheeler thefts were reported in the area, which happens to be a favoured shopping destination for Bangaloreans.
However, the Basaveshwaranagar police do not have the infrastructure to fulfill their responsibilities. The police station is no full-fledged building; the cops there have been operating out of a temporary shed for the last three years. Stating that the police station was earlier housed in a rented building, an inspector said that the department is yet to take possession of the land. And meanwhile, nobody knows when a permanent structure will come up.
The police station does not have the required number of police personnel either. "While there are 11 police constable posts yet to be filled, we also require four women police constables. Whenever we require women staffers, we have to seek the help of other police stations," the inspector said. However, except for a couple of problem areas, where small-time criminals reign, most of Basaveshwaranagar is relatively safe, he added.
However, Lalita Prasad, who had shifted to the area eight years ago, said that women-folk in the area are scared to come out of their homes after 8.30 pm. "Some petty crimes have occurred in my area, such as theft of water meters and other small things, but they were brought under control due to the police's timely action. But we do have a beggary problem here," she said.
Inspector Parameshwara can be contacted at 22942516.