Royal Enfield, Mahindra Jeep, Hyundai Accent and now BSA SLR?
Someone at the Police Department seems to have loads of sense of humour!!! For years, the good old Royal Enfield and Mahindra Jeep had served the Indian Police loyally, when suddenly last year the Karunanidhi government decided to gift them with a new set of toys – the Hyundai Accent car. I have never understood why the Accent was chosen. Its a luxury class vehicle. Anyway, these new cars were fitted with sirens and blazing lights to match international standards. Now, we can see these cars wizzing past us every now and then. I have often guessed either they are rushing home for lunch or escorting some politician on his way home for lunch. Honestly, I have never seen a real life police chase in India. Maybe I am missing out on the action everyday.
Anyway, after experimenting with Accent car for over a year now, the Police department seems to have a new theory now – Cycles are better than cars when it comes to speed and convenience. Check out these sentences from the press release –
These bicycles besides making the policemen reach the scene of crime immediately…
wow! thats something new. Ok…. what else? check out this –
In any incident of crime, instant and swift reaction by the police was of paramount importance, hence the concept of bicycles for the men to easily move around, officers said.
I wonder how many physically fit police officers are out there to ride bicycles fast… Remember those cops from the Miami Beach? (If you haven’t seen them… try watching Miami Vice, CSI and Baywatch) Now, picture our khaki clad police officers in shorts and shirts, with their guns, walkie-talkies attached to their belts, pedaling away at high speed through Ranganathan Street (in chennai) to stop crime and save the day!!!
If you are still on your chair and not on the floor laughing, read the original press release.
Coimbatore: To ensure visible and effective policing in inaccessible areas in the cramped old Coimbatore City with too many lanes and by-lanes, the City Police have given 50 bicycles for the policemen to patrol.
The City Police Commissioner, C.K. Gandhirajan handed over 25 bicycles each to the Assistant Commissioners of Police S. Rajendran (South), R. Chakravarthy (West) for the use of policemen in these two sub-divisions.
Police officials said that Coimbatore City Police already have jeeps to patrol the main and arterial roads besides anti-chain snatching squad and crime busters on motorcycles to reach out to smaller roads. There was also a mounted horse unit at the Armed Reserve for patrolling the Race Course walking track.
This bicycle patrolling would help the police reach lanes, by-lanes and smaller streets where policemen on motorcycles could not easily manoeuvre. In any incident of crime, instant and swift reaction by the police was of paramount importance, hence the concept of bicycles for the men to easily move around, officers said. These bicycles besides making the policemen reach the scene of crime immediately and would also help them reach inaccessible areas for peacetime policing initiatives.
[Source: The Hindu]
No offense to the police department. But, still somenone had to call out that the king is naked. Someone had to call out that their ideas are not very bright. I wonder if any of these ideas go through a process of Brainstorming, review and approval? If it does, then I would strongly suggest a change of the review panel!