“The next time you’re in distress & you can’t make calls, text your friends. And by friends, we mean us. Save this number, buddy. 9480801000” - BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice.) This official tweet, announcing an administered WhatsApp group to get in touch with the city’s cops, which by the way, has been retweeted over 2.9k times over the last few days, is making waves on social media — and for all the right reasons. Now, that namma ooru’s tech-savvy cops are a message away (literally and metaphorically); Bengaluru Chronicle chats up with the excited folk for more.
Varshita Ramesh
Time to take a breather?:
“I think the group, including the Twitter page, is a great way to let the youth know that the police exists for our safety. The memes are funny and ironically a great way for us to take the information seriously. I would definitely use the WhatsApp number, if need be, and I think it’s a brilliant initiative to help the common man on the go,” believes Varshita Ramesh, a 20-year-old city-based musician. Swati Rayasam, a 24-year-old, financial analyst comments, “If you look at the number of crime rates among young women and the number of eve teasers in and around girls colleges and hostels, it will be certain that youngsters are going to be beneficiaries of this. It’s certainly the way ahead as it’s a free and fast medium to seek help – two things people need during emergencies.”
Rajeev Tamhankar
Hopeful that the idea runs on feasible and effective lines, Rajeev Tamhankar, an entrepreneur, adds, “I myself had got pick-pocketed two years back in a BMTC bus and it was a hectic process for me to visit and follow up with police stations. We’ve had many initiatives come and go in the past. But, what makes this tick is the fact that its time-saving. And time plays a vital role in determining how successful the nabbing of a criminal will be. It is a commendable step that BCP has taken to ensure timely safety to its residents, by keeping up with the times. This form of prompt service will give the power to a lot of people to report crime as soon as they notice or experience it. If really being well monitored, this can be a key step in making Bengaluru the safest city in India (and maybe the world).”
Swati Rayasam
How ‘bout risk management?:
While the news has gone viral, and is trending online and off it, debates about the execution have begun to mushroom. Believing how imperative it is for the cops to employ barometers to tick against, Rajeev adds, “Three things are required to ensure its efficiency, i.e., regular monitoring of messages, timely responding and quick escalations where required.” Meghna Appaiah, a city-based model and upcoming actress opines how it all boils down to the speed of action. “This is a sharp move against wrong doers, and it enables people to seek help in private. The privacy factor is a huge boon. But again, I hope the process is streamlined and there’s adequate vigilance so that prank calls are sieved from the real ones.”
