Krishnanagar builder sets up illegal police chowki; Bluff Busted As Lawyer Complains To SSP

LUCKNOW: Debate over approved and illegal parking stands is still not over and in days to come city police too may need to certify genuine police outposts. A complaint was forwarded to district police chief on Wednesday stating that a builder had erected a ‘police chowki’ on his land to intimidate people.
Bearing emergency numbers prominently on red and navy blue background the ‘proposed’ New Golden police outpost greets visitors to more than 90 bigha plotting scheme located at Alinagar Sunehra under Krishnanagar police.Though aware of the fact, local cops had yet to act on the illegal outpost set up more than six months back without initiating any legal formalities.
A resident of Ittaunja, Arun Kumar Giri went along with an acquaintance to the scheme on Tuesday noon. “I was interested in buying a plot but staff members of two different brokers started an argument. I wanted to buy the plot with help of Pushpendra an acquaintance, but the other group insisted I buy the plot from them,” said Giri a lawyer in civil court.
As the argument turned intense, a person in plainclothes identified himself as in charge of the police outpost located nearby. “His name was Anjana Verma and he robbed me of Rs 5,000. Later, I found that the society was mired with disputes,” said Giri. Convinced that local police was selling plots in collusion with the housing society members, Giri submitted a complaint before SSP and an inquiry was ordered.
Officer-in-charge of Krishnanagar area, sub-inspector Sunil Kaul said FIR would be lodged against members of New Golden City housing society under relevant sections and outpost would be demolished.
DIG R K Chaturvedi said the matter was serious and local cops should have acted in advance. He also said police outposts are of three kinds, including a reporting police chowki that is established only with government’s approval and where FIRs can be lodged. A watch and ward chowki can be set up by the local police superintendent with permission of DIG and IG. The staff is sanctioned for watch and ward outposts and static wireless sets kept. No FIRs can be lodged at such chowkis. The police post or picket is decided by police superintendent in consultation with local police stations, makeshift structures are made around important crossings. No permanent structure or building is erected and only handsets are given to policemen on duty. On rotational basis, staff is deputed as per need. With growing population important pickets are turned into watch and ward chowki