People can’t harass others while feeding animals, says Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey

MUMBAI: City police chief Sanjay Pandey on Sunday reprimanded his personnel for not behaving well with citizens at police stations. The admonishment, which came during a Facebook Live session, was the result of complaints about behaviour of policemen. Pandey has banned constables from using their phones while on bandobast duty, saying people often sent him photos of cops glued to their mobiles.
Also, he has proposed a ‘Nagrik Diwas’ once a week, when citizens will be allowed to tour a police station and meet the senior inspector.
Soon after taking charge, Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Pandey had asked policemen to treat citizens like guests at police stations.
However, he said people had complained to him that personnel at Agripada and Nagpada needed to be taught how to behave. “Lodging citizens’ complaints and investigating them is our duty,” Pandey said.
Asking the force not to get agitated, he warned that they would then be answerable. He reminded cops that the department had provided them with a fixed 8-hour duty, postings of their choice with full transparency, travel allowance and promotions for hawaldars.
“Why can you not follow one request of mine to treat citizens well? Offer them a glass of water or a cup of tea,” he said.The police chief said he would speak to the joint commissioner to schedule a ‘Nagrik Diwas’ in each of the 94 police stations once a week so that citizens could bring kids along and visit police stations. “It can be organised on a day when there is no bandobast duty planned. The senior inspector should meet with citizens and talk to them. Let us try to do this by next month,” the commissioner said.
Referring to complaints from housing society members, Pandey said people should ensure that they do not harass their neighbours by littering their premises while feeding animals or birds. He referred to a complaint where a person residing on an upper floor was accused of throwing pigeon feed near the apartment below him. “Respect people living next door to you. Harassing them might get you in trouble as we could call you to the police station,” Pandey warned.
Talking about traffic violations that continue unabated, Pandey said racing was still rampant. Pandey said he will review traffic offences in 15 days and see what could be done.