GUWAHATI, May 13 - A number of residents of the city have expressed displeasure at the unavailability and late response by Guwahati Police following incidents of theft and burglary, which are on the rise in different parts of the State capital.
Non-functional landline numbers of many police stations have led to huge criticism from the people, who believe that the department must publish functional phone numbers periodically, and should be available on call in times of crisis.
�A number of miscreants barged into a house on Saraswati Road, Panbazar on May 9 around midnight. At least three door locks were broken and the only two women present in the house at the time of the incident were frightened beyond explanation. Somehow, an alarm was raised and people of the area caught hold of one of the burglars and started beating him. During the entire episode, a lot of people tried calling the Panbazar Police Station, but to no avail,� social activist Ajoy Dutta told The Assam Tribune.
Dutta took up the matter with the Director General of Police and also the Commissioner of Police, requesting them to update the phone numbers and make them available to the common people.
�During this incident, and several other similar incidents, we noticed that the landline numbers of the police station are either out of service or are rarely answered. If such is the condition of our so-called smart police, where would the common people go during the time of emergency?� Dutta questioned.
A number of citizens also expressed their displeasure towards the late response of �Dial 100�.
�Geetanagar area witnesses several incidents of theft and burglary. We try to dial the mobile numbers of the officer-in-charge of the police station. However, since the officers are transferred periodically, we need a permanent phone number, which is functional and is also answered, specially during night time,� said a resident of the area.
Residents have also raised questions on the alertness of the �smart police� of the state capital and requested the authorities to update its database of new groups of people entering the city every now and then.
�We see several groups of people entering Guwahati and occupying the pavements of Panbazar area. Gradually, these people vanish and mingle with other citizens. Police must keep proper record of such people. Moreover, considering the rapid increase in the number of construction workers in the entire city, the property developers must submit proper records, names and photographs of construction workers engaged in their plots,� Dutta added.
