Diamond Harbour Police District begins issuance of e-pass
Kolkata: Diamond Harbour Police District in South 24-Parganas has set a precedence by becoming the first police district in the state to start issuance of temporary e-Pass facility through WhatsApp for hassle-free movement of essential commodities that do not come under the purview of the prevailing lockdown in the state.
There are 11 police stations under this police district and a separate WhatsApp number has been designated to each of these police stations through which applications can be made for availing the e-pass.
The police stations under the police district are Maheshtala, Budge Budge, Rabindranagar, Nodakhali, Bishnupur, Falta, Ramnagar, Usthi, Magarhat, Diamond Harbour and Parulia Coastal. The salient features of the facility is to ensure a hassle-free, user-friendly method of availing the passes without reaching out physically to the police stations and encouraging social distancing.
The details for application through which essential service providers can apply for e-pass for individual and vehicles have been posted at the Facebook page of Diamond Harbour police district. An applicant has to send his name, father's name, photograph, address, registered mobile number, copy of ID like Aadhaar, voter card, validity period and vehicle number (if applicable) in the Whatsapp number of their respective police station area.
"We are also surveying the railway platforms and roads for the people in distress. This is a big challenge as these people have no homes. We have designated jurisdiction of each police stations and they are working in tandem with the NGOs for providing these people with food and necessary medical assistance," said Bholanath Pandey, SP of Diamond Harbour police district.
The police district has also floated a Whatsapp number – 9073925319 where people can call in case of any assistance.
"We are providing meals for the poor and elderly people in the district and over 300 people are being fed daily," a senior police officer said. The state Home department has been receiving a complaint that police is stopping people from going to buy medicines, barring a government-hired driver from joining his shift, harassing people returning from markets, beating up people and even damaging stores selling essentials. The Home department had scanned several CCTV footages and identified around a dozen cops who appeared to be doing excess. They have already been closed and their action is being investigated.
