The day before; I got a call from my son. "Dad! do you know what happened to Grandma? ...She got hit by an auto-rickshaw and the driver just drove off... she was bleeding a lot .... I think she hurt her head ... Aunt has taken her to the doctors... Ok! hanging up; Mom's calling". A hit and run. Obviously; something that needed to be brought to the attention of the Police. I searched for the number of the Bandra Police station and gave it a call.
"Namaskar! Bandra Police Station" a constable answered. I told him what had happened and was told that I could not report it. Apparently if she was at the doctor's or at a hospital; then they would decide if the matter needs reporting and call up the concerned police station. Then; he told me that if I did wish to lodge a complaint; then the person hit must come with me to the station. I thanked him for the information; but before I could hang up; he asked me the exact location of where it happened. I gave him the street address and pin code. It was amusing what I heard next. He told me that he was not really sure if that location fell under his station's jurisdiction as he was new. I asked him to check with his colleagues and he did, only to say they were not sure as well. So, I asked how could I know here to report? A more amusing response from him followed. "Sir, try asking any tea stall or fruit vendor near where it happened. They will tell you exactly which police station to go to. You see they are picked up by the Police so often and they are the best informed about which area fall under which station". I hung up and laughed.
Anyway, my mother law's injury was not too grave; but I still felt that she should file a complaint and I was quite sure that the culprit would be caught as the road has a couple of banks and their CCTV cams must have caught the incident. She declined and I asked her why? Her explanation was quite simple. She did not want to subject herself to any harassment. "I will complain. The Police may or may not get a hold of that rascal. If they do; they will at best trash him and let him go as nothing has really happened. They will probably plead on his behalf saying that he is a poor man just living his livelihood. The more obvious reason to let him go would be because the rickshaw owner must be some cop or local leader or thug; which means subtle or overt threats if I decide to push ahead. The beaten up driver could possibly stalking me for revenge. I don't care now that nothing serious has happened to me." I thought her reason was part flawed and that I did not agree with her. "Have they been able to do anything to Salman (Khan the actor) despite all the evidence and witnesses? Let it be." was her justification. I was annoyed; but after a day of thinking, felt that from her point of view - she was probably right. I could take up the matter with higher Police officers - through "connections"; but would that really sort anything for her or for anyone else for that matter? Rhetorical question I suppose.
I thought, on hearing about the incident involving a senior citizen, the policeman would have been more proactive; would have taken down my number and told me he would send down a beat officer to the location of the incident who would then decide next course of action. But, this matter was just another incident that he heard and couldn't care less if the victim was seriously injured or worse; and all he thought that was important at that point was how to not make it his station's problem by doubting the jurisdiction. Did the cop for a second realize that the citizen who calls in to complain is paying his wages? But; since when are police bothered about wages - leave alone who pays it?
It's not that the Police is made of bad guys; but, I don't understand why are those guys so insensitive to their duty? Has the system numbed so their sensibilities that their priorities have shifted to a point of no return? I can't answer it but have to for now accept that the errant driver is one that got away, and move on in life given the system that we live in.
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