VIBHA VERMA
vivha@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: All lines to 34 police stations across Goa are not busy. They are dead. Distress calls on the emergency response support system (ERSS) besides other crucial information are not being processed to the concerned police stations. This effectively means that if there is an accident or a crime in these jurisdiction areas, calls you make on the emergency line will not be patched to the concerned police station.
These stations include the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, the Women police station in Margao and two coastal police stations which deal with the illegal movement of boats and trawlers into Goa’s territory, and the two important police stations in the heart of the tourist belt Arambol and Keri.
While the most important communication method, the good old telephone is sunk in 34 police stations, the police have claimed bragging rights over the successful installation of circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems at all police stations.
Sources told Herald that station house officers have thus been “requested” to restore the landline connection and maintain it in working condition henceforth.
“The landline phones of the below mentioned police stations/outposts are found not working due to which it is difficult to inform distress calls received on ERSS 112 helpline and other important messages/information. It is requested to restore the phone lines at the earliest and maintain the same in working condition. Accordingly, compliance report may be submitted to this office,” reads the ‘most urgent’ note signed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (State Police Control Room, Police Head Quarters) Shivendu Bhushan, to all the concerned.
