Non-controversial and non-compromising. These two words sum up Mumbais police commissioner, the youngest the city has had so far. Ten months into his tenure, Anami Narayan Roy has centralised police management, maintained an iron grip on his officers and managed to turn around the reputation of the city police. For the better.
Here, in his first ever free-wheeling interview, Roy discusses the changes in the working of the force, the implementation of transparency, films, gutkha and of course, the underworld.
Mr Roy, you have been police commissioner for 10 months now, what would you consider as your major achievements in this period?
Our achievements are something that the people should judge. The assessment of our work has to be made by the public.
We have started with small things like making our police more people-friendly. Earlier, the people felt that their complaints were not recorded. Now, its being freely recorded so much so that it has reflected in our records.
Trend shows an 11 per cent rise in crime though there is no visible spurt. But we are not concerned with the increasing figures. We want to impart confidence to the people and ensure that they leave the police station satisfied.
The next main thrust was on basic policing where proper investigation is made and grievances should be heard. The pressures of rapid urbanisation and growing slums have subjected us to pressures that deviate us from fundamental police functions.
How did you plan to inculcate the basic policing in your force?
We identified a couple of areas of focus like training which is the most powerful instrument of change. We decided to use it at all levels professionally for transformation and improvement.
The training was supposed to be given at three levels: firstly improving and honing our professional skills be it crime or law and order; secondly, to change behavioural orientation, addressing the biggest grouse people have which is that the police are impolite, rude and unsympathetic; thirdly, we brought in little management inputs to optimise the results.
It is ironical that the output of the police, which works harder and longer than other professionals and put in minimum of 12 hours, is not commensurate with their performance. Hence we decided to optimise the result of our diligence.
We hired the best professionals for the job. But our main focus was the police stations, the fulcrum of our department. We have now got feedback that people are satisfied. We have received tremendous response which means that it is working.
But your police stations are still rude, impolite and intimidating, which means your job is far from over.
Its possible. There may not be 100 per cent change but the change is very significant. It has been observed through mystery customers and even common people. The observations were made by even some ministers who sent decoy complainants and were satisfied. We have received several letters and congratulatory notes and positive feedback. We agree that there may be some aberrations but we will deal with them as and when brought to our notice.
What about corruption and lack of transparency in the department?
We are using technology for three main objectives, firstly for citizen facilitation, which is their interface with the police.
The police issue at least 25 different kinds of licences including hotels, guns and others. The citizen facilitation centre, which is right at the entrance of the commissionerate is a single window, time-bound, transparent computerised facility.
We have listed down the requirements for each licences along with enclosures on the wall. Once the application is accepted, the applicant will be given a date when he can come and collect his licence. There will be no wasted-trip, no manual interaction, just transparent service.
In this way, corruption is totally eliminated and we can give result-oriented work.
Secondly, using technology for solutions, we have launched an info line 1090.
Earlier, for every small query several man hours were wasted and satisfactory answers were not found, for instance status of passport inquiry. All such answers can be obtained by merely dialling a toll-free number. In a short time, we found them to be effective.
The most important service for the enhancement of departmental performance is virtual private network. All the police stations will be networked and connected online through intra-net.
It will provide better, faster service for citizens. All the crime records are computerised so whoever wants to access the record in the crime branch, from as far as Borivali just needs to log in. It will also do online tracking of a citizens complaint.
That still does not solve the citizens problems with the police station. After lodging a complaint, they have to wait forever.
Gradually, step-by-step we will bring transparency in our functioning. We are aware that often after having lodged a complaint, its fate is never known until the complainant receives court summons.
We have introduced this system where the investigating officer (IO) meets with complainants. We have fixed a day and time so that it gets institutionalised. Every Saturday at 9.30 am complainants can go to the police station and meet the IO, the senior police inspector and inquire about the status of the case.
This will increase the accountability of the police towards the people. The police station is bound to come under pressure when they fail to deliver week after week. This will not only help build rapport with the community but ensure better relations and smooth flow of information. This practice has had reasonable success.
Apart from police stations, even other departments like crime branch and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) are teeming with a serious backlog of uncleared and pending cases.
We are aware of the huge backlog of EOW cases. Not only is there a major staff crunch but a presiding officer from there was deputed to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look after the Telgi scam. Moreover, the cases are too complicated. Yet, we have made a list of registered cases in chronological order and have prioritised them.
We have managed to bring the cases to the year 2001. And hope to clear the backlog in six months and bring the investigations up to date.
In the crime branch there is no backlog. We deal on the basis of urgency of detection. It keeps a check on criminals and collects intelligence.
What about the government resolution (GR) that had delegated most of the powers and prerogatives of the crime branch to the anti-terrorist squad (ATS)?
Its not true. The powers and jurisdiction of both the agencies are clearly demarcated and defined. ATS will probe into matters related only to terrorism, while the crime branch will take on organised crime and other conventional crimes.
There are strong indications that the underworld has reared its head again. Extortion and threat cases are on the rise. Comment.
Underworld activities are at the lowest ebb since the last 10-12 years. There has been no killing, no shootouts, only two firing incidents in air. Similarly, only two underworld related extortion cases were registered. The rest were bogus calls. The extortion figures may have shot up because we register all kinds of cases including a shopkeeper being threatened for Rs 100.
What about the threats to film people?
There is no substance in the media reports about the threat to film personalities. In fact, even those who were supposedly threatened have denied it. Our precautionary security to them was misconstrued. Since they were releasing their major films, we wanted to avert any kind of mischief.
But the gangs are still operational.
We never said that the underworld is finished. The dons are still alive, their foot soldiers and agents are around. We are alert and conscious to their mischief. There was an attempt to kill a businessman, which we successfully foiled. We even foiled mischievous attempts to disrupt the election process. We have neutralised all of this in good time.
Will this new bonhomie between India-Pakistan be a cause of concern for the police? The lines of communication are open and now the agents of the underworld can freely communicate.
The means of communication were always available and we dont think there is any change in the situation.
What about the case against two gutkha barons?
We have arrested two persons under MCOCA for their links with the underworld for setting up some machinery for gutkha packing. We have no case against anyone else as of now.
What about the fact that they sought mediation from Dawood Ibrahim and went to Karachi?
We have summoned them for questioning but there is no case as of now. If during the course of investigation, we find anyone guilty, legal action will be taken.
Why has there been a lull in extradition and deportation in the last six months?
None of those who had come here were either extradited or deported. Since the Middle-East government found them inconvenient, they were put on the plane here and sent off.
What about Monica Bedi? Apparently the Mumbai police has no case against her, only the Bhopal police have cases against her.
She will go through the normal process of law when she comes here.
Ganglord Arun Gawlis victory is perceived as the biggest defeat of Mumbai police. Comment.
Police have no role in the electoral process. We have to ensure free and fair elections, which we did smoothly. We dont influence the outcome of the elections, it would negate the essence of democracy.
It is widely believed that you gave a clean chit to Daya Nayak under pressure from Mantralaya?
I do not think there is any such perception. On evaluating the evidence we realize there was no evidence against Daya Nayak but sanction to prosecute others were given. A separate report for action against Daya Nayak has been sent on the basis of whatever transpired during the investigation. The court has accepted the report.
The Delhi police has launched a massive public relations exercise and their front office has police officers in corporate attire as khaki seemed to be intimidating. Would you be open to any such ideas?
Never. I dont agree that khaki is intimidating. I will oppose any such move to corporatise the dress code. Change of dress will not change a persons behaviour. Even a well-dressed man can be ill-mannered and uncooperative. I would like to create a citizen-friendly, khaki-clad policemans image.
Is there some kind of blanket ban on sharing information with the media?
It is the first time that we are giving out 100 per cent unfiltered information to the media. Even if 50 cases have happened in 24 hours, it is reported to the media. Every day, deputy commissioners address the media in the pressroom whenever there is anything significant.
Often the officers refuse to give out information to the journalists. If you find that so many media stories are erroneous, it is only because of lack of information from the police officers.
Yes and no. Lack of information is never possible. The thing is that we cant give out information the way the journalists want it. I will only give out information, which is factual.
Javed Ahmed, the joint commissioner law and order has completed his tenure. Who do you think should be his successor?
It is the governments prerogative. Even last time, for the post of joint commissioner crime, I never made any recommendations.
