Kanpur police lodge its first Facebook complaint

Kohna police station became the first of its kind to lodged a complaint through the 'Facebook' profile.

A Facebook user Tabish Ahmad on the social-networking site complained that he had lost his bag, which contained important business documents, Kohna Station Officer Alok Mani Tripati told PTI.

Ahmad had also given his address and phone number, Tripati added.
The SHO said police responded to the information by contacting Ahmad immediately to get additional inputs in the case.

Police had lodged an FIR in this connection and a sub-inspector has been given the duty to investigate this matter. Ahmad was also informed of all the developments regarding the case through 'Facebook'.

Kanpur DIG Ashok Jain said, "Lodging a complaint in Kohana police station through Facebook will send a message to the public that police would file a report on any complain that they receive through Facebook".

In a bid to improve the law and order situation, the Kanpur Police had recently linked three police stations of Kohana, Kakadeo and Naubasta with its facebook profile.

Asked how the police will give this report a legal status, Kohna's Station Officer Alok Mani Tripati said, "Since it was a minor incident, we took print out of Tabish Ahmad's from Facebook and based on that we filed an FIR."

Tripati also said if they get an information on a major incident like murder or dacoity on 'Facebook' then the police would go to the complainant and would file the FIR on paper.
The DIG congratulated Tripati on lodging first report based on a 'Facebook' complaint.

Jain asked other two stations - Kakadeo and Naubasta - to encourage the people in their area to file reports through 'Facebook'.

He said the police was also planning to post photographs of wanted criminals on this page so that they be traced faster.

Jain said people can complain against any police officer who take bribe and the informant's name will not be disclosed.