Karnataka: Citizens looking at social media as alternative to visiting police stations

The twitter handles of Bengaluru police and Additional Director General of Police, Traffic and Road Safety, Alok Kumar have often made it to the headlines for their proactive response to citizens tagging them over concerns they are facing, however, to what extent this is acting as a substitute to visiting a police station to file a complaint is startling. 

Reports indicate that on an average, 10,000 to 12,000 cases are brought to the notice of the police in a month. This ranges from offences such as pickpocketing to heinous crimes such as damage to property. In a recent incident when a scientist had his car window smashed by miscreants, he posted about the incident on social media after supposed inaction from the local police station. 

It is reported that the response rate is much better on social media in comparison with at least a 50% higher chance of receiving a response. Some of the incidents in which action was initiated after wide circulation of the incident on social media include 2 instances of road rage in Whitefield, Bengaluru. Recently youngsters trying out the wheelie stunt on main roads are also being booked after their actions were recorded and posted on social media. A case involving the moral policing of a woman over wearing burqa, was also served justice upon having made its way into the domain of social media.