Delhi Police have been facing flak since December 2012 - from within the civil society as well as from the political class. The latest, of course, is a public castigation of the Police from the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit (you can read her statement here). There are not many sympathizers for the Police, at least not among the public since police force all over India have earned notoriety in not caring really for the public, but serving only the elected representatives.
This blog post, however, is related to something surprising - a shocking experience, that turned well after all, thanks to the Delhi Police.
I had travelled to Delhi by the evening flight from Bangalore and reached Delhi about a couple of hours later than the scheduled time, thanks to inclement weather in the month of January a couple of years ago. After having collected my checked in baggage (which took another half hour), I spent a further 20-30 minutes in the pre-paid taxi queue inside the airport manned by the Delhi Police.
I got into a Maruti 800 taxi at the airport and the taxi took me to a hotel where I had my reservations. Due to the delay and traffic, I reached the hotel (close to Nehru Place) almost at 11 pm. I had to take out my wallet to check the address of the hotel. In the confusion to get my bags out, and get into the hotel at the earliest due to the biting cold, I seem to have dropped my wallet inside the taxi. By the time I realized I had lost my wallet, the taxi had already left. I didn't know what to do. My credit card, debit cards, driving license, and cash (about Rs. 4,000) were in the wallet and I didn't have any identity proof elsewhere. I was sure that the driver didn't really know that I had dropped my wallet in the taxi. Anyway, the hotel staff didn't insist on any identity proof and said I could produce it after I got back my wallet. I didn't know what to do. I asked the staff for help, but saw that they too didn't have a clue. Nevertheless, I did have the pre-paid receipt for the taxi in my hand and on the reverse of the ticket there were telephone numbers for any complaints or help. I first tried those numbers, but was told to complain to the Airport Police and was given their numbers. I didn't get them on line. After a few failed attempts, I again dialled the helpline and explained my position to the person on the other end. He was not only sympathetic, but also mentioned that he had already contacted the Airport police station and informed them. Fortunately, I had memorized the taxi number which would prove easy for the Airport police, I was told. I checked up with my contact in Delhi and was advised to lodge a complaint in the nearest police station and get an FIR if I needed to get my duplicate documents. I did that and by the time I came back and settled down, it was 1 am.
Around 2.30 am there was a call in my room and a chap at the other end asked for me by name and introduced himself from the Airport police to inform me that they had located my wallet and it was with them and could I please collect my wallet immediately! Imagine my surprise. But how to reach the airport at the dead of night in a cold winter morning in Delhi? I asked the receptionist of the hotel, and he arranged a taxi in about half an hour. I reached the airport and woke up the police guy, who took a letter from me and handed over the wallet after checking my driving license. But my real surprise was to follow.
When I wanted to tip him with Rs. 500, he refused and with folded hands said, "Sir, this is like a temple for me. I will not take a single rupee from you. I am glad that I could help you and you got your wallet and your cash and other valuables intact." I was dumbfounded.
I returned to my hotel in the same taxi, a much relieved and happy man silently thanking the Delhi Police.
This blog post, however, is related to something surprising - a shocking experience, that turned well after all, thanks to the Delhi Police.
I had travelled to Delhi by the evening flight from Bangalore and reached Delhi about a couple of hours later than the scheduled time, thanks to inclement weather in the month of January a couple of years ago. After having collected my checked in baggage (which took another half hour), I spent a further 20-30 minutes in the pre-paid taxi queue inside the airport manned by the Delhi Police.
I got into a Maruti 800 taxi at the airport and the taxi took me to a hotel where I had my reservations. Due to the delay and traffic, I reached the hotel (close to Nehru Place) almost at 11 pm. I had to take out my wallet to check the address of the hotel. In the confusion to get my bags out, and get into the hotel at the earliest due to the biting cold, I seem to have dropped my wallet inside the taxi. By the time I realized I had lost my wallet, the taxi had already left. I didn't know what to do. My credit card, debit cards, driving license, and cash (about Rs. 4,000) were in the wallet and I didn't have any identity proof elsewhere. I was sure that the driver didn't really know that I had dropped my wallet in the taxi. Anyway, the hotel staff didn't insist on any identity proof and said I could produce it after I got back my wallet. I didn't know what to do. I asked the staff for help, but saw that they too didn't have a clue. Nevertheless, I did have the pre-paid receipt for the taxi in my hand and on the reverse of the ticket there were telephone numbers for any complaints or help. I first tried those numbers, but was told to complain to the Airport Police and was given their numbers. I didn't get them on line. After a few failed attempts, I again dialled the helpline and explained my position to the person on the other end. He was not only sympathetic, but also mentioned that he had already contacted the Airport police station and informed them. Fortunately, I had memorized the taxi number which would prove easy for the Airport police, I was told. I checked up with my contact in Delhi and was advised to lodge a complaint in the nearest police station and get an FIR if I needed to get my duplicate documents. I did that and by the time I came back and settled down, it was 1 am.
Around 2.30 am there was a call in my room and a chap at the other end asked for me by name and introduced himself from the Airport police to inform me that they had located my wallet and it was with them and could I please collect my wallet immediately! Imagine my surprise. But how to reach the airport at the dead of night in a cold winter morning in Delhi? I asked the receptionist of the hotel, and he arranged a taxi in about half an hour. I reached the airport and woke up the police guy, who took a letter from me and handed over the wallet after checking my driving license. But my real surprise was to follow.
When I wanted to tip him with Rs. 500, he refused and with folded hands said, "Sir, this is like a temple for me. I will not take a single rupee from you. I am glad that I could help you and you got your wallet and your cash and other valuables intact." I was dumbfounded.
I returned to my hotel in the same taxi, a much relieved and happy man silently thanking the Delhi Police.
That was a good experience. There are some good people still in delhi Police and elsewhere. Even we had some experience of the same. When my wife's thirumangaliyam was snatched by a thief, Delhi Police got at least a part of it to us after some time. It may not be right to castigate the entire police force after all.
ReplyDeleteRajaraman
I agree. But what happens when we complain against politicians or against crime committed against us is the real test, I think.
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