Election duty affects functioning at police stations

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Mohali, May 10

The duty of policemen at election rallies, political events and VIP movement has affected routine functioning at police stations across the city.

Chandigarh Tribune today visited three police stations – Phase-11, Phase-8 and Sohana – to find out the ground reality.

A majority of policemen from these police stations today were mobilised for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s movement.

Both leaders landed at the Chandigarh airport for their respective political events. The Prime Minister addressed a rally at Hoshiarpur while Rahul Gandhi in Chandigarh.

Manoj Kumar (28), a cab driver, was seen sitting outside the munshi’s office at the Phase-11 police station.

“The car I drive met with an accident on Wednesday around 4:00 pm. I have been visiting the police station since then, but they say it will take three-four days to trace the person who hit my owner’s car. I spend three-four hours daily at the police station,” he said.

At the Sohana police station, SI Khushpreet Kaur, Station House Officer said, “The routine working is being affected due to election duties. We are already short of strength.”

The Phase-8 police station was also deserted with only a few policemen there. When asked about the SHO, a policeman replied that he was on election duty.

Earlier this week, Nardev Singh, SHO at the Phase-11 police station, also admitted it.

“I used to check two-three places in a day. But now, that has been reduced,” he said with reference to police investigation into the identification of a body recovered from a drain at Jagatpura last month.