Police helplines receive 90 congratulatory messages

Of the 300 messages received on the helplines of Mumbai police — 7738144144 and 7738133133 — launched recently, 30% have been congratulatory.

Of the 300 messages received on the helplines of Mumbai police — 7738144144 and 7738133133 — launched recently, 30% have been congratulatory.

HT Image

The twin lines, wherein the citizens can register their grievances by sending text messages (SMSes), had been thrown open to the public on Saturday afternoon. Rajkumar Vhatkar, deputy commissioner of police, operation, who is also the supervising officer for the distress lines, said that by Monday morning, they had received over 300 messages.

“Around 30% of the messages have been congratulatory notes from citizens for extending the facility. One such congratulatory message was received from a number from USA,” Vhatkar added.

The remaining were complaints ranging from delay in the clearance of passport application to lethargy in the investigation of house break-in or mobile phone theft cases. “On receiving the complaints, the concerned police stations were instructed to act instantly.”

Though the aim behind the launching of the helplines was to encourage the citizens to get vocal about corruption, not a single complaint of that nature has been received. “When such complaints are received, they will be directly sent to the concerned zonal deputy commissioner of police for investigation and action. Every complaint would be scrutinised and looked into by the joint commissioner of police, law and order, who is also the chief vigilance officer of the Mumbai police,” he said.

“Complaints which are sensitive in nature would be directly handled by the Mumbai police commissioner.”