More than 3,000 cops who have been deployed for bandobast duty for the Team Anna protest at the Bandra-Kurla Complex, would have to fall back on the age-old system of "adjustment" and take help from local caterers and businessmen for food packets and water bottles.
There is an unwritten rule in the police force, senior police officers told TOI, that the zonal deputy commissioner along with senior inspectors should arrange for cops' daily requirements. In case state reserve police force (SRPF) personnel are assigned on duty, local police must approach schools and other institutes in the vicinity to accommodate them.
An IPS officer, though, said this time, the SRPF has not been deployed in large numbers.
Constables get Rs 700 food allowance every month and their seniors expect them to use the amount for expenses incurred during bandobast duty. Officers at the BKC police station, under whose jurisdiction the MMRDA ground is situated, were busy since the past two days to convince their wellwishers to provide food and water to policemen . They had also requested a local businessman to arrange for water drums for three days.
An officer said, "The police are using their contacts for the purpose. Seniors usually don't provide sufficient funds."
In case provision for water is not made, security personnel would have to walk a kilometer to reach the BKC police station. Besides, there are no cheap food stalls in the vicinity of ground, said an officer.
Cops will be deployed in two, 12-hour-long shifts.
"The local police have to keep the rule book aside to ensure that the personnel helping them to maintain the lawand-order situation should not face a food and water problem as it affects their morale."
An IPS officer suggested that the government should create police canteens in different parts of the city or arrange for a mobile mess to deal with the issue.
No comments:
Post a Comment