Autos, cops’ mode of transport

Criminals being hauled off by grim policemen in a swarthy jeep marks the climax of so many of our films but in the real life battle between good and evil, the reel-life jeep is in actuality, often, an auto. With the police department under incredible pressure from increasing crime and the need to step up night-patrols in an expanding city, cops now cart the accused to the police station or courts in autos.

Actor Ravi Teja’s brother Bharath Raja, recently accused of drunken driving and a hit-and-run case in Banjara Hills was transported to the Nampally sessions court by auto. Ditto with actor Navdeep, the hero arrested for rash driving. True to his star status though, Navdeep actually tried to coerce the autowallah to take him to a star hotel instead of the police station.

The accused travelling by auto and even bikes is quite commonplace say city dwellers. J. Kalyan, a student leader in Osmania University says, “I was arrested at several agitations and in most cases was taken to the police station by auto. Many of my friends who were arrested were sent to court and the police station in autos as well, as the patrol vehicle was busy elsewhere.”

G. Krishna, another student organisation leader nods, “Whenever I’ve been taken to the police station by auto, the cops say their vehicles are sent somewhere else.” Srikanth N., an engineering student and resident of New Bowenpally was asked to lend the police his car, “A few months ago, there was a theft in our house. The police came on a bike. After they arrested the lady they asked to borrow our car to take her to the station. When we refused, they took her on the bike.”

With only approximately 320 jeeps and patrol four wheelers, every police station is given one patrol vehicle, about five bikes and a police station mobile vehicle. Cops admit that there is a shortage of vehicles to transport the accused. “We had to send Navdeep in an auto as patrol vehicles were busy elsewhere. It is risky but we can’t help it. We have to send them to the police station in whatever vehicle is available that time,” says C.V. Anand, city traffic additional commissioner.

“We use rakshak vehicles for patrolling and we can’t stop patrolling in the night. So, if there is an arrest then, it is a problem. In case of injury, we use the services of EMRI 108 and if it is arrest, we call for an auto,” admits Banjara Hills inspector Iqbal Siddiqui. The cops also maintain that there’s no harm in transporting the accused by auto or bikes. “Why not? We can arrest them and move them to police station in whatever vehicle is available at that time,” says Stephen Ravindra, DCP West Zone.