Top cop turns agony aunt

Commissioner of police, Arup Patnaik in order to bring down the stress levels of the 40,000 policemen has initiated an ‘open durbar’ where the cops and their families could share their professional or personal problems with him. This step might have a subsequent positive effect on the police’s interaction with the general public, who otherwise generally complain about the cops’ non-cooperation and rude behaviour.

According to deputy commissioner of police, Rajkumar Vahtkar, the durbar is being held every alternate Sunday in the morning at the Police Club near Azad Maidan. “The commissioner of police personally hears the problems and the difficulties faced by the policemen and their families and tries to solve them,” said Vahtkar.

The durbar has been held twice in the past. During the first week, around 73 grievances were heard while in the second, 54 people approached him.

The officials said that the problems faced by the cops range from not  being able to give time to family, to school and college admissions of kids, jobs for children, to accommodation and transfer.

“ The durbar is open for anyone and everyone irrespective of the rank. Even the retired or suspended police officers and their families are welcome,” adds Vahtkar.

The officials said that the initiative was introduced because it was felt that the force works under a lot of stress, which might be due to professional and personnel reasons. And if there is an efforts to bring out a solution to it, then it will help in the better policing.