Bengaluru: Will you believe your luck when you have lost all hope to get back your stolen items but you suddenly hear news from police it has been recovered in another state? It was a moment of relief for a 25-year-old Ashish Gupta, a photographer and a resident of Indiranagar when almost after two weeks he received information from Tezpur police in Assam about the recovery of his belongings which were stolen by his cook, on October, 2. But to his disappointment, all the excitement fell flat when the Assam police asked Ashish to send a FIR copy and claim the belongings which the latter had not received from the Indiranagar police.
It was a Friday noon when Ashish who was busy with his photo shoot received a call on October, 16 from Tezpur police in Assam. Completely unaware of what the call was all about, a smile soon pervaded on Ashish’s face when he received the news from Tezpur police about the accused cook, Lal Mohan Das, being apprehended by the police.
Speaking with DC Ashish said, “I was elated when I received a call from Tezpur police informing me that they have apprehended a person who was found roaming suspiciously on the street carrying a laptop bag. When the police based on suspicion carried out a check, they found my business card on the accused and verified the incident with me. I narrated the sequence of the incident as to how Lal Mohan Das, who was working as a cook-cum-driver with me, ran away with my laptop, iphone, few documents and cash.”
He further said, “Upon verifying the details of the belongings which were stolen like the details of the laptop, the serial number printed on the back, to which company it belonged to, cash and my documents, the Tezpur police told me that they are taking Lal Mohan into custody and I can claim my belongings. But, for that I have to send them the FIR or complaint copy,” he added.
Hoping to get his belongings back Ashish immediately approached the Indiranagar police and briefed them about the progress in the case. “The cops were unmoved again. I told them about the call I had received from the Tezpur police and requested them to at least now register a complaint. But, as expected from the local police, they made me wait for over one hour in the station. When I again inquired as to why they are not registering the plaint, they brushed off the responsibility citing that the inspector is out on rounds and asked me to come back in the evening.”
It is a dilemma many citizens undergo when they approach the police to register a complaint of mobile theft. In the first place, the citizens are not being heard by the police and if they do, the police simply give an ultimatum that the complaint can be registered if only original bill is produced, alleged Ashish who then approached the Traffic and Transit Management Centre in a bid to file a complaint through a ATM kiosk to try his luck but, he was turned down from there also, said Mr. Gupta.
Now, Ashish is hoping for a miracle to happen as the victim after running from pillar to post has been left with no option than to wait for the local police to lend a helping hand as he is unable to claim his stolen belongings due to rigid rules.
When DC contacted Indiranagar police they maintained their stand and said that they were ready to listen to the complainant and had asked him to come next day but the complainant did not return.
“The police need the original bill of all the belongings stolen then only a FIR can be registered,” said an officer.
