dna checks out the parking-safety measures taken up at important police stations in the city
Pune: The recent bomb blast in Pune has left everyone shaken and questions on the state of security are being raised again. What has shocked punekars the most is the capability of miscreants to plant a bomb right right under the nose of police, near Dagdusheth Ganpati temple which always has tight security since it is constantly on terror radar.10 days after the blast, dna checked whether policemen are on their toes. Reporters visited 6 police stations across the city and tried parking their bikes. They observed that police stations are prone to such incidents, considering their lackadaisical attitude. The questions that worried them were that, if the premises of police, who are nothing less than protector of people, are unguarded then how can we expect them to provide security to ordinary citizens? Here are their observations from the six police stations they visited.
Swargate police station
Swargate police station is situated at a strategic point of the city. Situated right opposite Swargate bus stand, it has three buildings, out of which one has a police station in it, the other one is for crime unit while the third one is for official purposes. In the same premises, machines seized in Telgi scam are also kept. Right adjacent to the station, the police housing quarters are situated. Reporters reached the station in the evening and tried taking their bike inside. There was a police guard sitting there. He inquired as to where they wanted to go and told them to park our bike outside. He kept inquiring in detail and when he was not convinced with their replies he sternly told them to park their bike outside. They readily obliged.
Khadak police station
Khadak police station is situated on the busy Shivaji road and is adjacent to Tehsildar office better known as Mamledar Kacheri. This road is open for only one way traffic and is a connecting route to Swargate. There is public parking at both sides of the station and anybody can park there without any checks. When reporters went to park there, they were not questioned by anybody. It was only after a few minutes that their photographer started clicking photographs and it was noticed by few police officers who were having a cup of tea at a tea stall opposite the station. They informed them that CCTV cameras were installed right outside the gate and hence they could keep a tab on people in the vicinity of the station.
Faraskhana police station
This police station is located in a bustling book market and was recently a target of a low intensity blast. Lock-ups of more than 10 police stations including a special lock up for women are situated in the premises of this station and Vishrambaug Police station. Sharing a wall with Dagdusheth Temple, it is located in the hotspot of the city. The place is heavily barricaded with at least five policemen patrolling the area. They recently installed a check point where every visitor has to give details before entering the station. When reporters tried entering, they were told to not even halt there for a second. This police station has surely learnt from its mistakes.
Kothrud police station
Kothrud police station is a spacious police station and a more visible landmark on the road. It is situated on Paud road which later connects to Mumbai-Bangalore highway. There is ample space for parking and there are two separate buildings, one consisting of lock-ups and a station while the other is a separate passport verification office. Reporters could park their bike inside the premises, unquestioned. They parked their bike and went outside for a walk. A good 30 minutes later they came back and nobody asked them any questions.
Cantonment Police Station
Located in Camp area, this police station has a status of a heritage building. In the same building, the office and residence of Deputy Commissioner of police zone II is located along with office of Assistant Commissioner of police. Reporters saw that there were two entrances to the station out of which only one gate was functional. Just outside the station a number of two wheelers were parked which the traffic police had picked up from no parking zones. Since there was no policeman at the gate they could take their bike inside. Suddenly two policemen came out of nowhere and shooed them off. They tried telling them that they had work inside but they told them to park outside. The lady police officer, in fact escorted them outside herself.
Samarth Police Station
This police station is located at Rasta Peth near Employment Exchange office and harbours a special lock up for criminals. This was reporters’ next stop after cantonment police station but they had a contrary experience. When they reached the station they saw a police man at the stations door and the moment he went inside they went and parked their bike. They saw that that more people in civilian clothes entered the station but nobody bothered questioning them. Considering that the parking was spacious, there were many bikes parked, they parked their bike amidst these. For 20 minutes their bike was in the parking space while they walked around the police station without being questioned.
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