Online campaign backfires

Traffic dept’s facebook page used to shame corrupt cops

Users post photographs of policemen taking bribes, riding without helmets on online forum

Ashutosh Patil

     

Posted On Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 04:20:55 AM

Mumbai police is losing face every day on a Facebook page it recently created to allow Mumbaikars to post pictures of traffic offenders. On the page, which carries an unofficial tag but is maintained and monitored by senior police officers, people are posting pictures of cops accepting bribes, riding bikes without wearing helmets, and even relating in detail cops' corrupt ways and their misbehaviour with motorists. One of the pictures posted on the Facebook page Alarmed by the negative feedback, which defeats the page’s stated objective of getting people involved in policing of Mumbai roads, the traffic department has begun initiating action against errant cops. “Let people post these pictures and comments on Facebook. We will not turn our face away from our own failings. We will start initiating action against cops whose pictures or vehicle numbers appear on the page,” Deputy Commissioner, traffic, Nandkumar Chowgule, said. Chowgule, just a glance at the Facebook reveals, will have enough material to act against his men. Here are a few samples: Rahul rakh posted this picture 1. Rahul Rakh has posted a picture of a traffic cop accepting a bribe from a man. He, however, does not mention any details and signs off with a lament, “what to say, guys...” 2. Suchitra Ghosh relates an incident of Saturday night when she and her friends were made to get off a rickshaw “by drunk cops driving a police van”. Suchitra says the cops were so drunk, “they could not even stand straight.” 3. Ankita Karandekar reports on the page “a cop at Kurla station (having long moustache) who collects money from autorickshaw drivers everyday.” Joint Police Commissioner, Traffic, Vivek Phansalkar said, “We will take cognisance of all these pictures and comments. We will take action against these men.” Just last week, Joint Commissioner, Law and Order, Rajnish Seth, referring to some uncomplimentary pictures of policemen appearing in newspapers. Calling it a “shame”, the notice asked policemen to make sure their conduct in public is exemplary and does not bring disrepute to the department. Karadekar Ankita a cop at kurla station(having long strange mustache) ......collects money frm all the autorickshaw drivers out there...."everyday" and encourages them to break rules... Ramanathan Swaminathan Man, this is a fantastic way to reach the cops. basically, the cops i find are just standing at a distance away from the signals so they can catch some one to make their days money. in fact, i asked the police man standing little away why he should stand there instead if he stood on the signal, i am sure the motorists... Uday Sripathi The "Licensed Thieves" of Mumbai, our beloved traffic police. It's like the Government giving them a salary and asking them to loot and steal the citizens money. Amardeep Hora Imagine the money collected at traffic violations without receipts would be such a large amount (lacs per day,may be more), that traffic police department will have enough money to raise their salaries like our MP's