SMS initiative helps locate missing girls

After Hadapsar cop makes his mobile number public to enable reporting of eve-teasing, two missing minors found

SMS initiative helps locate missing girls

After Hadapsar cop makes his mobile number public to enable reporting of eve-teasing, two missing minors found

Two minor girls who had run away from home to be with their teenage lovers were found and handed over to their parents after an innovative initiative introduced by the Hadapasar police. In a bid to curb eve-teasing around colleges, Police Inspector Pandharinath Mandhare of the Hadapsar police station had made his cell phone number public, appealing to victims to complain through text messages to help him catch the culprits.

Outright success: MiD DAY had reported on July 26, 2011 about the new
SMS initiative by the Hadapsar police to catch eve-teasers

After a report on this innovative step in MiD DAY, the Hadapsar police received 27 SMSes on Tuesday and 11 on Wednesday seeking his help in several matters. A girl who had gone missing was located even before her parents had lodged the missing complaint. The girl was handed over to her father, who had visited Hadapsar police station to lodge the police complaint.

In another case, a 17-year-old missing girl was traced after she eloped with her boyfriend. "We received a message claiming that the person had spotted a missing girl along with her friend at a bus stop," Mandhare said. "My team immediately went to check and nabbed them."

The missing complaint about the girl was registered at the Wanawadi police station three days ago. "Two more girls informed us about harassment by mobile stalkers thorough SMSes. We immediately contacted the person and warned him and the calls have stopped," Mandhare said.

'Ask him to study'
The police appeal also resulted in their receiving a call from a worried man who sought police intervention to ask his younger brother to be more serious towards studies. "I counselled the college student against bunking classes. I cross-checked today and found him attending the lecture," Mandhare said.

Techie offers help
A software development professional from Goa approached Mandhare and congratulated him on his initiative. He also suggested that he could help the police station develop a software which will enable the personnel track and manage the SMSes on his cellphone.

9923191533 People residing in the jurisdiction of the Hadapsar police station can seek help on Senior Police Inspector Pandharinath Mandhare's cell number