City Cops Just an SMS Away

By Swati Reddy

Come 2009, police will just be an SMS away. Citizens can send a short message service (SMS) to 9010100100 to beckon the men in khaki in case of an emergency.
Briefing the media, Hyderabad police commissioner B Prasada Rao said: “People are finding it difficult to access ‘100’. Though the caller hears the ring when he/she dials the number, the call was not landing at the control room, possibly due to technical problems,” Prasada Rao said.

“To avoid that, the SMS facility will be introduced. The moment the message is sent, operators at the control room will alert the concerned police station,” he added.

To a query on techie Mohammed Talha of Nadeem Colony, who was picked up by Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Prasada Rao said the case was investigated by the Maharastra police and they do not share investigation details.

“We only gave the requested assistance to ATS. Hyderabad police too questioned some people, but since Talha was working at Hi-Tec City, we transferred the investigation to Cyberabad police,” Prasada Rao said. He also said there was not much headway in the sensational Vikar Ahmed case. Ahmed fired on police personnel near a phone booth at IS Sadan and fled from the place. “We are still investigating the matter,” he added.

Though they could not nab a terror suspect, the Hyderabad police chief claimed the city police was capable of thwarting a Mumbai-style terrorist attack.

“A Greyhound team is already in the city and procurement of sophisticated weapons is also not a problem. Weapons will be procured under Megapolis,” Prasada Rao said.

He also reeled out achievements of the police force in 2008. Fatal accidents came down in 2008 when compared to previous year. According to him, 453 fatal accidents were recorded compared to 533 in the previous year. Similarly, 22 history-sheeters, 68 robbers and decoits were nabbed.

However, there was a consistent decrease in property recoveries.
In 2008, of Rs 21,64,44,137 property lost, they could recover property worth Rs 3,49,76,151 (16.15%). In 2007, property lost was Rs 13,93,97,961, recovered was Rs 4,57,50,080 (32.81%), while in 2006, the property lost was Rs 23,96,84,192 and recovery was Rs 11,70,92,995 (48.85%).

He said 99 surveillance cameras had been installed at various locations.