My first encounter with Police Station.

Name – Arghya

Classification – Personal Experience

Let me share with you some events from my personal diary. Last week I had my first encounter with the infamous Indian Police for violation of law and order.

I and my wife went to Reliance-Delight to buy some nonveg items. As usual we parked our bike beside the road with among other. When we came out of the shop, to my horror I found that my bike was not at the place where I parked and the place seemed bit empty and I could look a pick-up truck at distance fast disappearing. We immediately started running after the truck. Many a thanks to my growing tummy and work culture of all-time-sitting in front of computer, I collapsed within 100 meters. Watching me stopped behind my wife also gave in. Haa haa. What to do now ??

We explained our situation to the side by footpath-vendors and its customer and asked their help for our next move. They suggested to go to the nearest police station to get the bike back.

Ohh dear god!!! Police Station!!! What a nightmare!!! I was lost for a few moments. I could never forget the incident of my first encounter with a police – It was my Passport verification. I was in hostel and had a good relation with the guard who used to announce in the public announce system if there was a guest to meet any hosteller. On the day of verification I came down to meet the police after hearing the announcement. The policeman asked me to go outside the hostel and took me to a corner and told – "Saale gurad see taraphdari karbata hai. Gurad see bulbata hai ki kam paisa lena. Jaldi see 500 niakl (You as*hole, you have engaged the guard to ask me to demand for less money? Quickly take out 500 bucks)….."  I was bit surprised. I didn't ask the guard for it, he might have done it from his end as a nice gesture to me. Ohh my God !! It has hit back to me as boomerang!!! I knew from other students that I had to bribe the policemen some money and it should be in-between 300 to 400 bucks and not more than that. But I had to pay extra 100 for keeping good relation with the guard.

I woke up as my wife snatched my hands and told me "Lets Go". I had to explain to her my worries which were very much visible on my face. Anyway we went to the nearest police station on a rickshaw. Even from outside the police station, we spotted out our bike. A police man was sitting on it; it was exactly as we see in movies, a policeman with danda(stick) holding it in his armpit and using both hands to prepare Khaini (some addiction like smoking). I asked my wife to stay behind and with a fast beating heart I said – (Let me tell you the conversation in English..)

Sir, it's my bike. They picked it up in front of my eyes…. …

Perhaps he was moved by my approach, I knew he did not expected in his wieldiest dream that someone would address his as "Sir". His reply also shocked me.

Ohh hoo. You could have asked then and there. See now how much trouble you had to face. You had to come so far, you had to pay 50 bucks to the rickshaw ……

Without any trouble, I paid 200 bucks and took my bike back. But the best thing was his friendly conversation. And I learned a few things –

1) The pick up truck comes everyday except Saturday and Sunday. Does make sense, they also enjoy holidays too.

2) It doesn't worth to park your vehicle in a non-parking zone to avoid parking charge.

3) World is a mirror – If you show respect, you would get back the same in return. Sometime it may not work, but don't get disheartened.