Residents angered by award to Santa Cruz police

MID-DAY (MARCH 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

At the Rotary Club of Mumbai-North Island's 16th Annual Police Awards, the Santa Cruz Police Station was adjudged the 'Best Police Station-West Region' by senior officials of the Mumbai police.

However, people who live in some areas under the jurisdiction of the Santa Cruz police are upset as they allege the station's officers are indifferent to their many complaints.

With regard to the award, H Choksi, chairman, Rotary Awards, said, "The nominations of various police stations across the city are received from the deputy commissioners of police and the final list is forwarded to the additional commissioners of the zones. At a meeting of senior police officers, the winner is decided."

But residents of Saraswat Colony and Guzder Scheme, both of Santa Cruz (West), disagree with the police officers' latest choice. Naveen Mithal, chairperson and trustee, Guzder Scheme Residents' Trust, said, "We have been facing tons of problems for years. And the Santa Cruz police do nothing about it. Now, some club has awarded them the best police station award without asking the local people. It is unfair."

Saraswat Colony and Guzder Scheme comprise more than 200 buildings. Included are buildings on both sides of D P N Sports Club Road, Gurudwara Road, S V P Road, Main Avenue, North Avenue and Sarojini Road. Among the residents many complaints are traffic violations by auto drivers, eve teasing, footpath encroachment, prostitution, an increase in thefts and bars that operate illegally beyond stipulated hours.

Residents highlighted their problems in a letter dated January 26 to Senior Inspector Vilas Tupe of the Santa Cruz police and R Pereira, traffic inspector, Khar-Bandra Traffic Police. But to date, no action has been taken against their complaints.

Mithal said, "We have made numerous complaints to the traffic police, the Santa Cruz police and civic authorities, but nobody pays heed. It seems like the authorities are working together and do not want to listen to our grievances. Where do we go?"

Gurmeet K, a housewife living in a North Avenue Building, said, "Sometimes it becomes difficult to go to the gurudwara in the early morning. The autowallahs even tease us middle-aged women. Our girls are now restricted to their homes due to these characterless men who lounge about on the roads."

Mithal added, "The police are only bothered about the VIP bandobast for festivals throughout the year. What about us? We are only asking for two constables to be deployed in the area in the morning and evening. The police have not done anything to keep antisocial elements in check or stop eve teasing by autorickshaw drivers.

"We miss former additional commissioner Rakesh Maria, who dealt with our problems. He fined illegal hawkers and things were better. Now, autorickshaw drivers violate all rules by blaring music at odd hours, washing their vehicles with gutter water and parking in no-parking zones. And Traffic Inspector R Pereira is not available to attend to our complaints. There have been constant thefts of car stereo decks and accessories. Recently a man from a nearby chawl was arrested for stealing car stereos."

J Rao, member of the Guzder Scheme Residents' Trust, said, "The police have the power and ability to take action. It's high time they exercised their duties and power. The middle-class people are tired of coping with problems. The day is not far when all frustrations will explode. And the police will then repent."

While Tupe was unavailable for comment, another Santa Cruz police official, who did not wish to be named, said, "The police do its work. Problems caused by autos and hawkers are the responsibility of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and not the police. We work for 12 to 18 hours and nobody cares about us. How can a police staff of a few people handle the problems of lakhs of people?"

Ramrao Wagh, additional commissioner of police (Western Region), said, "I have got reports that the Santa Cruz Police Station is doing a good job and has come down heavily on bad elements in the area. Because of their recent efforts, there are now no horses on Juhu Beach. Anyway, awards for police are encouraging and appreciable."