lines, are stationed here in the night; the basement is barred to visitors

Victims of crime desperately trying to get in touch with the police often complain that calls to the police control room (100), especially in the night, go unanswered. The phone keeps ringing or the line is busy. A police officer offered one worrying reason: “Some of the staff could be in the basement drinking or they may be under the influence of alcohol .”

police commissionerate

commissioner MN Reddi

empty bottles

tetrapacks of liquor

cigarette

snack packets

use-and-throw tumblers

patrolling vehicles

control room phone lines

CAR and KSRP personnel

About 100 policemen, including those deputed to man the control room phoneThe new ‘adda’ in town for policemen on night duty appears to be the basement of theat No 1 Infantry Road. Police’s office is located on the first floor of this five-storey building. The basement is littered withand, hundreds ofandandand plates. Ironically, a board placed by Cubbon Park police at the main entrance to the commissionerate warns against smoking on the premises!It is no secret that some policemen on night duty manninghave a few drinks while on their rounds, but drinking inside the police headquarters was unheard- of till now.The basement is a parking lot for police vehicles; visitors are barred from entering here. Since it is prone to flooding when it rains, there is enough evidence to suggest that it has been a boozing den for some time. While some of the discarded bottles and packets have been dirtied by rainwater, others appear new.About 100 police personnel, including those deputed to man theare stationed here in the night. They are expected to be alert to any emergency — even a terrorist attack. “This is a highly sensitive area with the Vidhana Soudha, Raj Bhavan and several other important government establishments located in the vicinity,” the police officer said. “Policemen are expected to be on high alert all the time, but what can be expected of a drunken policeman.”The new police commissionerate was inaugurated about 18 months ago by chief minister Jagadish Shettar, but it is in bad shape. Apart from the basement being prone to flooding, many senior officers have refused to occupy their cabins citing vaastu, lack of water, leakage and electrical problems. There is only one surveillance camera on the premises — at the entrance. The entrance from Ali Askar Road at the rear does not have a surveillance camera.Yet, apart from commissioner MN Reddi, three additional commissioners, a joint commissioner and five DCPs function from offices in this building. These senior officers usually leave by 9 pm. Policemen on night duty — all lower rung staff — report for work at around 8 pm. Sources say there is no chance of police personnel boozing during the day. It can happen only during the night, a police officer said. “They probably bring the booze when they come in and begin drinking once senior officers leave the premises,” a source said.Reddi was obviously unaware of the partying, but promised to take action.