What next for the uniformed men of Delhi?
By The American Bazaar Staff
NEW DELHI: The police are a much reviled lot in India, with the public for the most part having only deep scorn and suspicion of their abilities and integrity, when it comes to controlling crime, nabbing suspects, and staying above corruption.
Bollywood films have not made the situation any better for the uniformed men. Movies for the most part – unless headed by a super cop in the lead who bulldozes dozens of villains – mock the cops, and have little left in the way of imagination or belittling them.
For the most part, one message comes out shining clear: cops are the bane of the common man’s existence.
But even Bollywood films would have not had the audacity to show something as being credible, as what an intrepid band of robbers or a single man – it’s yet to be determined – pulled off in New Delhi: rob an ATM inside a police station with policemen inside.
Well, come to think of it, nobody would question that at any time of the day or night, there is bound to be someone at a police station, especially in India’s national capital. So, there is no question of wondering whether the robber(s) knew if the station was possibly unmanned at the time of their heist.
The Daily Bhaskar reported that some robbers managed to steal money from the ATM installed inside Vasant Vihar police station and fled the scene. The burglars also targeted a tea shop near the police station and stole Rs. 5000 from its cash box. The incident took place on Monday.
The report said: “It is notable that initially no policeman was aware of the incident. However, one of the police personnel said that burglars failed in their attempt of stealing money. No FIR has been registered in this context.â€
The Times of India reported that the incident happened while the police staff was in deep sleep and they came to know about it when they found the lower part of the ATM dismantled during cash withdrawal.
The police station was shut down after the incident.
As per the sources, it is suspected that some drug addict has stolen the money, said Bhaskar.
As if that makes the police who were sleeping inside to be viewed in a more sympathetic light?
The CCTV footage of the police station premises has also been recovered. The police is interrogating suspects and investigation is on, said the report.
The motto of the Delhi Police is ‘Citizens First’. What next for the uniformed men of Delhi?