Surprises galore for Home Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 8. Stacks of files in a lock-up room converted into a records room and no complaints registered at `Sannihita', a reception counter at a police station, for the past four days, were some of the surprises the Home Minister, Mr. T. Devender Goud, encountered during his surprise visit to several police stations in the city on Tuesday.

Shocked to find row after row of dusty files, the Home Minister asked the inspector of police, Mr. M. Limba Reddy, of the Sultan Bazar police station as to why there was such a pile-up. When told that the records pertained to some 20 years or so, a surprised Mr. Goud asked the officials to clean them up.

Noticing that there were no complaints entered at `Sannihita' from May 5 onwards, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. P. Ramulu, remarked, ``Seems like Rama Rajya has been ushered in already,'' to which equally bemusing was the response of the confused inspector, ``Yes, sir.''

Another point that brought a smile on the Minister's face was when he asked an inmate of a cell at the Chaderghat police station as to why he was rounded up. The answer from the young man was: ``I thrashed my house owner because he asked me to pay the rent.''

At the Police Transport Organisation headquarters in the Old City, he verified the attendance register and also the physical presence of those supposed to be on duty. The condition of vehicles lying around in the compound provoked Mr. Goud to enquire whether mechanics employed had the capability to repair them, and pat came the answer in the affirmative.

The dusty surroundings here and at the Saroornagar police station when he asked the officials to show him some files prompted Mr. Goud to direct the Police Commissioner later to launch a cleaning drive.

At Sultan Bazar he found that one Javed was picked up for using the number belonging to some other vehicle for his vehicle. But, it was also discovered by him that his name was not mentioned in the records despite his being there for some time.

Later, addressing a press conference, he said speedier installation of concealed cameras at all road junctions to monitor traffic violations and converting the City Control Room into a modern one were some of the measures being adopted.

Mr. Goud said the aim of the Government was to induct most modern methods in city policing. Computerisation work in the control room would be completed in three months, he said. The project was undertaken at a cost of Rs. 3 crores.

The camera installation project at all road junctions was being undertaken at a cost of Rs. 2 crores, he said. He directed officials to dispose of seized vehicles lying at police stations unclaimed if there were no legal hassles.

He said he would conduct more surprise checks to prevent lock-up deaths in the State. Despite instructions, the behavioural pattern of the police was not changing to his satisfaction, he said.

Mr. Goud said the department was concerned about landgrabbing, hence asked the Revenue Department to coordinate its actions in preventing the same with the help of the police. When it was brought to his notice that the land belonging to Secretariat Colony situated in Puppal Guda near Manikonda in Ranga Reddy District was grabbed and the helpless employees could not do anything about it, he said such cases were numerous and the department would act tough with those who flouted the law.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Goud orders cancellation of illegal 'pattas'
Next     : Mushrooming of bars unlikely