JOIN USLack of adequate patrol vehicles, commensurate with a fast-growing City, has led to rise in the incidence of mugging, chain-snatching and robbery, lately. Introduced 15 years ago, the strength of Hoysala vehicles patrolling the City has not been increased.
According to a police official, no effort has been taken to make the patrolling squad efficient. Criminals, he notes, understand the way patrolling vehicles operate, including their routine, and know when to commit the crime.
Stating there is a dire need to increase the number to patrol streets constantly, he added that the existing vehicles have undergone numerous repairs and most of them are old in need of replacement.
Bangalore, with 104 law and order police stations, has a fleet of 113 Hoysala Jeeps and 300 Cheetah bikes. This, in effect, means a majority of the stations have only one jeep and three bikes to patrol vast areas falling under their jurisdiction. Around 10 police stations, with jurisdiction over large areas, have two Hoysala jeeps.
Complaints
Another official said residents complained that the Hoysala jeeps or Cheetah bikes were often found parked in front of bars and restaurants at night. “Residents of a particular area complain vehicles do not patrol residential areas but are stationed in front of bars at around 11 pm for over 10 to 15 minutes. The reason is yet to be ascertained,” he added.
The government, it is learnt, has promised the police department Rs 5 crore for the purchase of new vehicles. With the extension of deadline for bars and restaurants, there is a need for these vehicles to step up patrolling to prevent crimes.