Police protection? These residents live in no man’s land

BENGALURU: “How will you feel if you have to live in constant fear that you can become a victim of robbery, assault, chain-snatching or murderous attacks anytime of the day and you don’t have any police help for many kilometres all around,” asks Mr Pradeep S., a resident of Bhuvaneshwarinagar.

As the city has been witnessing an increasing number of housebreaks, chain snatchings, robberies and assault cases, residents of RR layout, Upadhayay layout, Bhuvaneshwari Nagar and nearby areas around Outer Ring Road don't have an easy access to a police station.

In case of emergencies, they have to travel at least 40 km to register a police complaint at the Ramanagara police station.

Thousands of residents living between Kengeri (near Jnanabharthi University) and Chandra Layout are in no man’s land as far as police protection is concerned. Earlier, the areas came under the Bidadi police station in Ramanagara district, but now they fall under Kumbalgodu police station, making it difficult for residents to approach the police during emergency.

Mr Sunil Veeranna, who lives in Mariyappanapalya, said, “Can you imagine anyone travelling 40 km to reach a police station? Mariyappanapalya and nearby areas fall under the Ramanagara district police station. We also don’t have regular patrolling by Hoysala or Cheetah teams, making residents here vulnerable to criminal attacks.”

Passport verification a major hurdle

The biggest problem the residents face is passport verification. “When we are filling the passport application, we don’t know which area police station has to be mentioned. We have a number of issues and the authorities should take up corrective action,” said Mr Balaji Sharma, another resident.

The residents demand that the authorities should bring areas between Kengeri and Chandra Layout under the Jnanbharthi police limits for easy accessibility.   

Additional Commissioner of Police (East) P. Harisekran told Deccan Chronicle, “The government has to take decision. I am aware of the situation and can understand the problems being faced by the residents. But Kumbalgodu is entirely rural and the department cannot attach the entire area to Jananbharthi police limits. I request the residents to prepare a proposal and approach the authorities to allow the government to work a possible way out. At least, 25 % of the area can be attached to Jananbharthi police station limits.”