Fearing COVID, police stations refuse to register complaints in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: COVID 19 seems to have taken a toll on the normal policing in Hyderabad with many police stations refusing to register small complaints fearing infection.

Sample this: Santosh wanted to lodge a complaint against a person with whom he was running a dispute over the parking space. He approached the police station at Chikkadpally, but cops refused to register a complaint and counselled him to settle the matter amicably.

“They told me why to complain about such small matters when they cannot even arrest that person. Cops said they cannot even take him to court due to fear of COVID. People who are already in custody for pity issues are being let off due to fear of the virus. Cops said they will make sure that the accused gives you compensation and doesn't repeat the mistake," he said.

Santosh is not an isolated case. Monika, a resident of Himayathnagar, said police did not lodge an FIR when CCTV cameras at her home were stolen.

“CCTV cameras of our home were stolen. The thief was caught on camera. When we went to the police station to lodge a complaint, cops did not file an FIR saying it is a small matter. They said the accused, who is from the same locality, shall fix the damage. We are happy that the damage has been fixed, but we wanted the accused to be punished," she said.

A police official told NewsMeter that 13 personnel of his police station have been infected by the COVID and therefore they are taking up only important cases.

He said there is a shortage of staff as most of the cops are infected. The official said many accused, who were arrested, turned out to be COVID positive. “We had to send them to isolation,” he said.

Data reveals that more than 250 police personnel have been tested positive for COVID in the state.