Mumbai: Three cops show-caused for avoiding patrolling duty

A policeman scans the QR code after patrolling an area in Mulund. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

Cracking its whip on dereliction of duty, deputy commissioner of police (zone 7) has issued show cause notices to three constables from Bhandup police station for not patrolling the areas that have been assigned to them. The cops were found to have not scanned the QR codes placed at those locations, which they are supposed to do after patrolling the respective areas, and hence have been asked to submit an explanation for the same. If they fail to provide it then each of them would be fined Rs 5,000. However, this is the first instance of a senior cop taking action in the matter since the QR code-based patrolling system came into effect.

Earlier, cops on patrolling duty, especially at night, were made to sign registers kept at strategic locations across the city. But as there used to be complaints regarding less or almost no patrolling, the QR code-based system was set up.

This system enables senior officers to monitor the activity through the QR codes which are installed at important locations in the city. The beat marshal of a particular area scans the code through an app. Every police station has 150 to 200 points, out of which each beat marshal has to cover a maximum of 50 points on a bike or van.

While checking regular updates regarding patrolling duty, it was observed by the Bhandup police that three constables - Samadhan Dhobale, Ritesh Sonawane and Aniket Dedhe - had not scanned the QR codes at their locations on February 12. The matter was brought to the notice of DCP (zone 7) Prashant Kadam the very next day, who heard the cops' explanation but was not satisfied with it. Hence, he issued show cause notices to them on March 1, asking why they should not be penalised for dereliction of duty.

The constables have been asked to submit their reply within 15 days or else they would be fined Rs 5,000 each under a provision of the Mumbai Police Act 1956.

"These constables had not been scanning the QR codes for a long time. If the system has been set up for the cops, then they have to follow it. Indiscipline won't be tolerated," said a senior officer. "The system is keeping a real time check on patrolling cops and every senior officer can track them," he added.

Joint Commissioner (law and order), Vishwas Nangre-Patil, said, "We have increased patrolling. Whenever a crime happens in a locality, we check the QR codes and if they haven't been scanned, we fix responsibility for it."