Roofless Police

Afternoon Voice

Constables and Policeman of LA-2 department are facing nowadays tremendous problems with the recent change in their location from Worli BDD Chawl to Tardeo. After a decision taken by the authority implemented on 14^th February this year, the tents located near Tardeo police station is the office for the reserve police force kept for emergency purposes. After which 2300 policemen out of which 250 are women’s suddenly have no proper premises for officers in such a large numbers. Why these steps have been taken by the officials the LA-2 constables do not have any answers. On the condition of anonymity (as they are not supposed to speak to the press) some constables and police inspector’s approached AV to raise their issue.

The LA-2 Unit which was located in BDD Chawl was an old British construction and did had each and every facility required for a proper unit. But the main reason which is annoying the police is that they do not have any premises, proper toilets, changing room facility as everything has to be done under the tent. “We don’t know why such move has been taken by the authorities, from a proper location of about 60 years old we have been shifted to tents” said a constable. Moreover there are no wash basins; no drinking water facilities provided to us in our new location informed a constable.

The policeman of LA-1, 2, 3, 4 are responsible for taking criminals to the courts, while they also support local police during the time of riots and regular protests which are held in different part of cities. Around 2,050 policeman and women are been arranged for their regular work while 125 are kept on stand by for emergency cases with vehicles to take actions if needed. While these 125 out of 25 are women’s wait in their tent for their 12 hour duty with no basic needs fulfilled. Some female constables who are coming from Virar and Bhayander said “we use toilet facility near Tardeo bus station or many times we have to use public toilets” also she added that “we have to sit near tree or near the staircases when we are tired and we have to bare the 36 degree Celsius temperature under the tent”. According to the sources such decision has been taken by the authorities is due to the location of Tardeo which is close to the station and police have their own parking facility at Tardeo.

While on the other side the officers allege that such a move has been taken by the police as the DCP’s office is located in Tardeo. When AV visited the tents in Tardeo the reserve police male as well as female said “we will soon go to the highest authority and if needed, we will also approach Mr Arup Patnaik Commissioner of Mumbai”. When AV tried to contact Additional CP (A.P), he was unavailable to comment on this issue.