https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

When a Visiting Card from Police Means Much

Karnataka Railway Police is handing out visiting cards to passengers. These cards will help them in reporting crime from anywhere in the journey. It is a major step towards community friendly policing. ADGP Bhaskar Rao talks about the initiative.
Indian Masterminds Stories

We often receive visiting cards from people owning small or large businesses or holding important designations in private companies. At times, we too dish out cards to others. But have you ever come across a policeman handing out visiting cards that too on a railway platform?!

In the first of its kind initiative in Karnataka, cops are now giving their visiting cards to people to be used in times of need. Additional Director General of Police, Railways in Karnataka, IPS Bhaskar Rao talked with Indian Masterminds about this (rather unusual) move.

IPS officer Mr. Bhaskar Rao

SAFETY FIRST

The railway police personnel are handing out their visiting cards to passengers on trains leaving Bengaluru. The idea behind the initiative is to ensure that people aboard have a number at hand in case of any emergency.

“The personalized visiting card is printed in Kannada and English, and bears the tagline ‘Happy to Help’. These will be handed to passengers, especially women who are traveling alone, senior citizens, the needy, the lost, and foreigners. In this way, we wish to ensure that traveling passengers are not harassed in any way,” Mr. Rao told Indian Masterminds.

Kannada side of the printed card

The cards bear the contact numbers and Email IDs of not just the jurisdictional police stations but also of individual policemen. It contains names of police stations, constables, head constables, assistant police sub-inspector, the official number of the police station, its email ID, and the railway
police’s Whatsapp number.

Armed with this card, the passengers would not have to wait to reach the next station and then file a complaint with the authorities about their distress.

English side of the card

EMPOWERING THE CONSTABLES

The ADGP Railways believes that the constables need to be empowered as ultimately they are the ones who address people’s problems.

“This initiative will take the police department towards community policing, help people in their problem as well as improve the response mechanism of the police department. It is never too late to reach out to the citizens,” said Mr. Rao.

The step has initiated community friendly policing

The activity, it’s hoped will further help in “demystifying the police department” by way of their humble constables handing out visiting cards.

“I am surprised by the response as people have traveled beyond railway stations and called police constables to receive advice regarding the law and order related issues,” Mr Rao told Indian Masterminds.

A couple getting handed the visiting card by a cop

MIND OF A CRIMINAL

According to the officer, rail travel is more unsafe than any other form of travel as it gives anonymity to criminals. Among rail crimes, mobile phone and laptop thefts top the list.

“Most robbers pretend to be travelers and strike a rapport with their target. Once the unsuspecting passenger is asleep, they steal their money, electronic gadgets, and jewelry, etc. Some give passengers food laced with sedatives before robbing them. We have also seen cases where bodies packed in suitcases are left under the seats,” stated Mr. Rao.

These criminals try to mix and mingle with passengers as ordinary travelers, to gain their trust. They even go to great lengths and sport army haircuts and dress well to show that they come from good backgrounds. They help passengers with their luggage and once the innocent prey steps on the platform or visit the restroom, they flee away with their belongings.

Women safety is their top priority

SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVE

By giving out visiting cards to help people, the Karnataka Railway Police has taken a huge step not only towards passengers’ safety but towards bridging the gap between the police and the public as well.

“Hopefully, it will get extended to other parts of the state because the fear and the doubt against the police department can only be cleared when the police themselves become proactive and reach out to people,” says Mr. Rao.

The initiative will ensure the safety of passengers

In this way, the constables and passengers are also able to find friends in each other.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
3 IAS Appointed to Key Roles: Amit Kumar as PS to Tribal Affairs Minister; Seema Jain Takes Addl Charge in Atomic Energy Commission
IRS Officers ndian revenue Services
CBI Arrests IRS Officer, Private Individual for Leaking Data Under Faceless Tax Scheme
HLL Lifecare
HLL Lifecare Unveils New Brand Identity for AMRIT Pharmacies, Marks 10 Years of Affordable Healthcare Mission
Titagarh Rail System
Titagarh Rail Systems & BHEL Inaugurate Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Production Line in West Bengal
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
Orissa High Court Rejects Anticipatory Bail of IAS Manish Agrawal in Stenographer Suicide Case
indian-forest-service IFS Officers
2 IFS Officers, Including Sajjad Hussain Mufti, Promoted in Ladakh and J&K
hudco-foundation-day
HUDCO Celebrates 55 Years, Charts Ambitious Growth Path to Fuel India's Infrastructure Vision
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd
GRSE CMD Cmde PR Hari Honoured with Management Excellence Award 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha Sets A Goal Of Zero NPA, Rs 3 Lakh Crore Loan Book
WAVES 2025 (Ashutosh Mohile)
A Davos-Like Media & Entertainment Summit in Mumbai
Aditya Vikram Agarwal
The Shouts of Joy Were Real: Aditya’s UPSC Rank 9 Was a Family Celebration
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-25 at 16.19
IFS or Nothing: Why Shreya Tyagi Gave Up ITS, IDAS And IRS for Her Real Dream | Exclusive
From a curious young girl in Bahrain to an Indian Foreign Service officer, Shreya’s pursuit of diplomacy...
Hemant Mishra UPSC CSE 2024
From Bihar to UP’s SDM: How Hemant Mishra Cleared UPPCS Twice, BPSC, and Secured AIR 13 in UPSC
Hemant Mishra, a resilient Bihar native, cleared UPPCS twice, BPSC, and secured AIR 13 in UPSC CSE while...
Sanskriti Trivedy
AIR 17 Sanskriti Trivedy’s Final Shot at UPSC Hits the Bullseye
Despite already securing Rank 352 and joining IDAS, SanskritiTrivedy didn’t give up on her dream. In...
Social Media
Exam Student Aspirant
'Bramhastra' For Aspirants Appearing for UPSC Prelims Exam 2025, ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Final Month Strategy
Officer Shaikh's practical and focused suggestions come as a timely morale booster for thousands of candidates...
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha Sets A Goal Of Zero NPA, Rs 3 Lakh Crore Loan Book
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
3 IAS Appointed to Key Roles: Amit Kumar as PS to Tribal Affairs Minister; Seema Jain Takes Addl Charge in Atomic Energy Commission
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
HUDCO CMD Sanjay Kulshrshtha
WAVES 2025 (Ashutosh Mohile)
Aditya Vikram Agarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT