Cops opt out of city posts

Under pressure from people, media & govt, they prefer outstation postings

The writing is on the wall. Mumbai, which was once the most favoured posting for policemen, is fast losing its charm. If the recent transfers of Assistant Police Inspectors (API) are any indication, then policemen no longer want to work in Mumbai.

The state government on April 30 transferred 310 API across the state of Maharashtra – out of these 51 were from Mumbai who were transferred to other places. But 43 out of the 51, close to 85 per cent, voluntarily and on-request asked to be transferred outside Mumbai.

An API, who did not wish to be named, said, “In the last three to four years, the image of the Mumbai police has taken a major beating. It is best to work outside Mumbai. At least you can lead a respectable life.”

On the contrary, only nine out of the 310 APIs asked to be voluntarily posted in Mumbai. A senior PI said that the Mumbai police are under the constant scrutiny either from the government, media or the public. “If a policeman is caught accepting a bribe of Rs500 it makes the headlines but officers from other departments who indulge in large-scale corruption are never exposed,” he said.

Joint commissioner of police (administration) Subhash Awte said, “The reason for transfer requests in most cases is due to personal reasons. It in no way signifies that they do not wish to serve in Mumbai.”