Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Of Robbers and Policemen

The Robbery:

On 24th of Feb I got mugged. I was happily coming home after a very satisfying shopping spree. I had bought oodles of stuff at giveaway prices and was feeling that warm glow that comes from within when a woman has shopped her fill (which is not often, mind you). So I engaged an auto to come back home and settled down for a long ride home, with thoughts of a hot cup of tea and a fashion show later on. But it was not to be.

Not even five minutes into the ride a bike came dangerously close to my auto, and a hand came in and grabbed my handbag. The snatcher pulled at the bag so hard that I was pulled along with it and rammed into the side of the auto. Still I tried to pull my bag back, but the straps broke and the thieves were off with the bag. It was like gone in 30 seconds.

Well, being a true damsel in distress (heh heh) I screamed for help, but like true unconcerned passersby no one came forward to help. My autowallah did give a heroic chase, zooming through the traffic, but what chance does an auto have of catching a bike?

The Police Station:

I was advised to go to the police station to lodge a complaint and taking the good advice I went. It was my first time in a police station and to put it mildly I was a little scared. You know all those bollywood movies do have an impact. So, in I went and I was directed to a certain desk where music was playing on a cell phone on full volume. As I tried to tell them of my plight in a voice that was continuously drowned by the beats of some telegu number, I knew it was hopeless.

The conversation went like this:
Me: Two guys on a bike snatched my bag
Policeman (P): (Silence)
Autowallah (A): (something in telegu, very excited)
P: (Something in telegu)
P (To me): When did this happen
Me: just now, 15 minutes back
P: where
A: Something in telegu
Me: Described the whole incident
P: Don’t worry madam, ye to hota hai, ab kya karein. Kal ko hi ek aurat ke bag mein se log teen lakh rupye ke jewar le gaye, aapka to bas bag gaya hai. Ab bag to milga nahi, aap compliant likha do, hum certificate de denge to duplicate documents banwa lena. Abhi ghar jao.
Me: Bag nahi milega?
P: Vo log kahin faink gaye to milega, nahi to gaya. Ab aisa chhote chhote chor ko kab tak dhoondhege? (if they throw your bag somewhere we’ll get it else gone. How long will we look for such small thieves?)

Anyways after this enlightening conversation the inspector (or whoever) on duty wrote down a small paragraph in an ancient register, describing the incident. And I was asked to come the next day and collect a copy of the FIR.

Today is 27th. No FIR yet, no bag yet, no idea about the thieves yet. Still running around trying to get everything in order. I only wonder what happens to people who are really in trouble?

1 comment:

~ Icarus said...

Pretty neat entry.I think I can relate to your incident in a way,may be the intensity was altogether different.In your case of theft,no FIR was registered...In my case,5 years back an attempt to murder was made and there is not even a police filing for my records.No FIR...Well..thts how our system works...But then my fault too...I left trying after a certain period...Almost all do...wrong but this is wat it is...Anyways,keep blogging...