Among the police stations of Kolkata, especially after including the added areas, Garden Reach Police Station happens to cover substantially a big region, which is not only sensitive but also demographically and geographically, of paramount significance. The demography of the region under the Garden Police Station is unique in a number of ways. Unlike other areas, it mostly comprises migrated labourers and thus residential areas appear minimal. As it is adjacent to the Kolkata Port, the locality is full of activity, day and night. And likewise, police patrolling throughout the year, day in and day out is a common affairhere.
The location of Garden Reach Police Station itself explains its importance. With so many historical places around and the legacy of Wajid Ali Shah– Garden Reach can boast of a unique blend of diverse culture and activities, conspicuously distinctive from Metiaburuz and Khidderpore. OC Masrek Ali himself acknowledged candidly: “I had been in charge of Entally and Tiljala Police Stations previously. Still, I believe this has been the most challenging assignment for me. Whenever the name Garden Reach is uttered, people exhibit distinct prejudices. Believe me, in the last few years, the criminal record in this area has unbelievably comedown. I give full credit to my team as our devoted officers work relentlessly with solid networking. If you talk about regular cases, I will refer to issues concerning disputes in labour wages and never-ending incidents of mobile thefts and snatching. Even smuggling and burglary cases have become so rare. In fact, by and by, the entire Garden Reach area has shaped up much better than the traditional stereotypes.”
Make no mistake, the Garden Reach police station is a spacious one and the officers themselves have curated a wonderfully crafted green-zone which adds an extra spark to the whole area. Right now, the police station has 13 Sub-Inspectors including one female cop, one Sergeant and 14 officers belonging to the Assistant Sub-Inspector rank. Additionally, there are 34 Constables deployed in the Police Station along with 14 Home Guards and 17 Civic Volunteers. The Police Station has a dedicated computer room where all case files and other necessary documents are updated digitally, ensuring a comprehensive digital database.
Interestingly, one of the biggest challenges for the police force here is fake news. There have been so many instances where a piece of fake news has triggered local disturbances. In this regard, OC Masrek Ali remarked:
“Garden Reach is a perfect case study where fake news can ultimately end up instigating law and order problems. This is why we have opted for innovative measures to counter such adverse situations. There are four mosques in our locality. After Namaz, in case of any update regarding fake news, we request the local Imams to clear all confusion among the people through loudspeakers. We have got fantastic results and indeed, many people from the locality have applauded our initiatives. Last year, there was utter confusion regarding the fixing of the route map of idol immersion which urgently needed to be changed to avoid any discord. We talked with the local people and there was not even a single complaint and both Muharram and idol immersion were carried out in perfect harmony.”
There is also a common misconception that minority areas in Kolkata are extra sensitive. In reality, the situation is absolutely different. Garden Reach itself showcases an ideal example of unity in diversity. With a prominent cosmopolitan culture, the locality boasts of a rich heritage. The socio-economic framework boasts of kite-making and betel leaf shops along with labour intensive jobs. In the slum areas, more than 120 CCTV cameras have been installed for smooth governance. The Garden Reach Police Station also runs Nabadisha programme which caters to the holistic development of local children. Last year, 12 students cleared the Madhyamik Examination with flying colours. To increase community feeling, the Police Station also organizes annual sports events to motivate young learners. One of the Constables also added: “In our Police Station, we celebrate birthdays of each and every member and we are just like a happy family. This is what has helped us to grow together as a team.”
OC Masrek Ali will soon be awarded for his excellent efforts. A humble, erudite person as ever, he acknowledges the efforts of his team and signs off saying: “Days have changed. You don’t need to fear that you are coming to Garden Reach and you need to go back before it is too late. The coordination from the locals has been amazing. We believe, in the coming days, we will be able to serve the people much better than we are doing at present.”
Ranabir Bhattacharyya
