Bengaluru: On Monday, a stone from the bird bath in Lalbagh fell on a six-year-old Vikram Kumar. How did the people react? According to the victim’s family members they just took pictures and videos, instead of helping him.
More often than not, we see a mob of people watching an accident or crime scene, as if it were a movie. “Citizens in our country hesitate to help because they fear having to go through police procedures, answer questions at the police station and courts," said Kiran, a member of community policing, a group that aims to prevent crime and promote safety.
With social media dominating our lives, people are more concerned with being the first to post about any incident/accident and rescuing the victim takes a backseat, Kiran added.
The community policing group, comprising ordinary citizens, hopes to educate people on quick action during emergencies and how to go about it.
"Earlier this month, we found an old man from Bihar, in HSR Layout who seemed lost, was partially blind and could not speak properly. Our volunteers took him to the police station. For one whole week we tried to find his home," said Kiran, senior field associate of community policing.
"Finally we got in touch with Hulimavu police station, and they informed us that someone had filed a missing complaint. We immediately traced the contact to his grandson and they were reunited," he added.
The reunion between the grandfather and grandson, after a whole week, was touching and the police personnel and volunteers were relieved, he said.
The group acts as catalysts, working with the Bengaluru Police, seeking guidance on how to help people in need. There are 523 members, known as Area Suraksha Mitras, and they are spread out over the city, equally divided among the 18 police station limits.
