VOLUME I ISSUE 2 JUNE 2008 K OLKATA P OLICE We care for you. NEWS IN THIS ISSUE Unit of the Month G News G Events G Achievements G Community Policing G Friendship Cup 2008 G Important Helplines and Website

Slice OF History From the Desk of the Editor A Unit Born Out

THE MONTH OF MAY SAW KOLKATA POLICE EXERTING of a Murder its sinews to come to grips with the challenges thrown THE MURDER OF A SEX WORKER, ROSE PEARL ON up by unavoidable exigencies. On one hand were the 1 April 1868, on Amherst Street set off a chain of widely attended Indian Premier League Cricket matches events that was to culminate in the birth of one of and on the other the panchayat elections in West Ben- the most vital units of the Kolkata Police – the De- gal. Despite the odds of a resource crunch, all the tective Department or DD. matches went off peacefully at Eden Gardens. Sir Stuart Hogg was then the Police Commissioner. The Friendship Cup Football Tournament which is a He was also the Chairman of Calcutta Corporation major police-community relations programme of (Hogg Market is named after him). Though Sir Stu- Kolkata Police was kick-started by Sir Stuart Hogg art was busy with municipal work, he was both none other than the legendary Oliver feared and respected by his police colleagues. Kahn and the Bayern Munich foot- Pearl’s murder set off a wave of criticism against policing in Calcutta. Sir ball team at Bodyguard Lines. Stuart in his Order No. 49 set up a special force to investigate crime in the Thrilled football fans gathered at city. The Detective Force (later called the Detective Department) was born the venue to watch the team kick a headed by Superintendent A Younan and assisted by Inspector R Lamb. few balls around on the football field. With them were four Darogas, ten Head Constables, ten second-grade and The induction ceremony of 10 Kolkata Police horses ten third-grade Constables (Inspector Richard Reid investigated the Pearl held at the paddock and the inauguration of a new bas- murder and the killer was caught). ketball court at the Police Athletic Club were the two other major events held in May 2008. Sir Stuart also framed rules relating to criminal investigation and for the first time categorised murder, culpable homicide, dacoity, burglary and This issue selects the Detective Department of Kolkata grievous hurt as special report cases. Police as the ‘Unit of the Month’. It is one of the oldest wings of Kolkata Police and I am sure the readers would It was also Sir Stuart who first defined the functions and duties of the like to know more about it. The newsletter also contains Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner reported to the Commis- events and achievements and information of signifi- sioner of Police anything he might find wrong and inspect various Section cance to all. Houses (Police Stations) in the town and suburbs of Calcutta.

EDITORIAL BOARD Chairman: K Hari Rajan: Additional Commissioner of Police (III), Kolkata Editor: Sudhir Misra, Spl. Addl. Commissioner of Police and Jt Commissioner of Police (O) Member: Javed Shamim: Deputy Commissioner of Police (1), Detective Department Member: Manab Bandyopadhyay, Public Relations Officer, Kolkata Police K OLKATA N DD DETAILS

A member of the Dog Squad at work

UNIT OF THE MONTH: DD

ORIGIN: A Commissioner of Police, Detective De-

detective partment was initially assisted by two Cyber Crime Cell staff at work force was set Assistant Commissioners, one in charge IMPORTANT SECTIONS: DD’s flagship sections up on 28 No- of the General Branch and the other of are the Homicide Squad, Anti-Dacoity vember the Criminal Intelligence Branch in the and Robbery Squad, Anti-Burglary Squad, 1868 by Sir Stuart Hogg, the then Com- 1960’s. At present the department has 2 Anti-Snatching Squad, Watch Section, missioner of Police, Calcutta, following Deputy Commissioners and 7 Assistant Motor Theft Squad, Anti-Rowdy Squad, the murder of a sex worker (see front Commissioners. Bomb Squad, Bomb Disposal Squad, Nar- page for full story). The department has 29 sections besides cotics Cell, Note Forgery Section, Anti- The Detective Force shifted its office its administrative offices. Cheating Section, Anti-Fraud Section, several times – from Lindsay Street to 5 Immoral Traffic Section, Missing Persons Halliday Street and finally in 1982 to 18, Squad, Women Grievance Cell, Scientific Lalbazar Street. Wing, Anti Terrorist Cell, and CRS. FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY: The With criminals using newer methods, DD Detective Department, headed by a has set up a Cyber Crime Cell, Antique Deputy Commissioner of Police, helps Theft Squad, Wildlife and Environmental the Commissioner of Police to control Protection Cell, and Bank Fraud Section. crime in Kolkata. It is a specialised unit The Dog Squad was formed in 1917 with and investigates important cases, col- a lone German Shepard. It now has 14 lects criminal intelligence, studies the dogs trained to detect explosives and crime pattern of the city, initiates and narcotics, track criminals and also act as monitors preventive steps and follows Guard and Rescue Dogs. up criminal trials. The department has The Criminal Records Section maintains a meticulously and painstakingly investi- computerized databank on crimes and gated several complicated cases and criminals in the city and works closely solved them. with the State and National Crime DEPARTMENTAL SET-UP : The Deputy The entrance to the DD building Records Bureaus.

The family members of 65-year-old Manoj Pal of Budge Budge are thankful to Constable B Roy for saving Pal’s life. On the afternoon of 1 May 2008, Pal suddenly felt restless while traveling in a minibus near Sonai Road. Constable B Roy, who was on duty nearby, took Pal to BNR Hospital in a taxi. P OLICE NEWS A Bomb Squad personnel outfitted in a protective suit

noticed the tampered passports after the NEWS: Events, Fighting duo had reached Kolkata by Air India’s Ex- press flight on 8 May 2008. They were handed over to Airport Police Station. Crime & Achievements  On 12 May 2008, Surojit Sarkar of Mu- raripukur Road, Kolkata 700 067 had asked his khalasi Ranjit Chakroborty to guard his Tata Ace vehicle parked in front KP & KMC JOIN HANDS of his house during the night. But next Kolkata Police and Kolkata Municipal morning the helper and the vehicle were Corporation joined hands to demol- gone. Officers and men of Manicktolla Po- ish a large number of of unauthorised lice Station after a week’s search, arrested constructions in the city. Since 12 De- the helper from Chakda, Nadia, on 20 May cember 2007, action was taken 2008. The vehicle was found in the Bijpore Police Station area, 24 Parganas (North). NEW BASKETBALL COURT: One of the finest against 44 such constructions. Joint outdoor basketball courts in the city was drives were also taken against hawk-  On 1 May 2008, Mashar Alam alias Raj inaugurated by the Commissioner of ers encroaching carriageways. of Ekbalpur Lane, Kolkata 700 023, im- Police on 15 May at the Police Athletic personating an ICICI Bank employee, met  Fake industrial instruments (ESAB Club, Maidan. On the occasion, the Reshmi Roy, a resident of Tripura, on the brand) worth over Rs1.49 crore were Bangladesh basketball team played an ex- Esplanade Metro Railway Station. He seized from the Burrabazar area by the hibition match with the Kolkata Police promised to get her discounts at various Kolkata Police Enforcement Branch after basketball team. shopping malls in the city and walked a big raid on 15 May 2008. Ten people away with her credit cards and mobile were arrested. HORSES INDUCTED: Ten new phone. Shakespeare Sarani Police Station  horses and three K9 On the afternoon of 12 May 2008, personnel arrested Alam and found the members were ceremoni- some people from inside a moving taxi mobile phone and Rs10,000 in cash that ously inducted into the snatched a gold necklace from Anjali he had withdrawn using the cards. Kolkata Mounted Police Saha’s neck while she was walking in at the KMP Complex on front of Chittaranjan Seva Sadan on S P 15 April. The horses were Mukherjee Road. Later, officers and men SEMINAR AT LALBAZAR christened on the basis of their breed, ap- of the Anti-Snatching Squad, DD, got a A seminar on forged currency notes pearance, nature and behaviour – Ujjayani, tip-off and arrested Sujay Maity (26) alias was organised by DD at the Lalbazar Malavika, Oliver, Robin Hood, Sharapova, Begun and Bishu Das (19) and got the conference room on 7 May. The partici- Dimple, Harry Potter, Kamalini, Champion, necklace back. The taxi was also seized. pants included a Manager from the Re- Indian Delight. After the induction, KMP  Balwinder Singh and Gurnam Singh, serve Bank Currency Department, put up a spectacular horse show. two youths from Haryana, travelled to representatives of the State Forensic Kolkata Police Volleyball Team earned the Malaysia and paid a tout Rs7 lakh to get Science Laboratory, a Government top position in the State Office League Vol- forged Australian work visas. They even Pleader, and Kolkata Police officers. The leyball Championship 2009, held at the changed details in their passports to es- officers were shown how to detect West Bengal Volleyball Association Ground cape detection. But, alert Immigration of- forged currency notes and understand in May 2008. ficials at N S C Bose International Airport aspects of criminal law. K OLKATA P OLICE NEWS COMMUNITY POLICING FRIENDSHIP CUP 2008 Workshop on first-aid: Kolkata Police ised by the Community Policing Wing in organized a workshop on first-aid and April 2008 have been placed under The Kolkata Police Friendship Cup Para trauma care on 16 and 17 May at renowned stage artist Smt. Alokananda Football Tourna- Kolkata Police Auditorium, Bodyguard Roy for grooming and advance training. ment’08 got off to a Lines, in association with HIVe India. The 15 selected children will rousing start on 25 Shri V K Dhingra, Executive Director of spend several hours a week May at Bodyguard UCO Bank and Smt. J. Brown of Hope honing their dancing Lines. Foundation inaugurated it. Staff and skills and prepare for teachers of the NGOs of the Nabadisha bigger shows as the Shri Nirupam Project attended. Kolkata Police Nabadisha Sen, MIC, Dance Troupe. Com- The need for such a workshop was felt merce because the teachers work with under- Probaho, the weekly blood donation and In- privileged children who often suffer camp of Kolkata Police was con- dustry, due to lack of medical aid. Experts from ducted at the NPPS, Hare Street, Govern- HIVe India and Jorabagan, Tollygunge and Ul- ment of tadanga Police Stations. About four West Ben- hundred police and civilians donated gal was blood. the Chief Kolkata Police Family Welfare Guest on the St. John’s Ambulance Centre: In May, the Mobile Medical Unit occasion. The conducted the two-day workshop. of Kolkata Police Family Welfare Centre main attraction of Trainees were awarded certificates at was stationed at Eden Gardens during the show was of course the end of the workshop. the IPL-20 matches for the spectators as the legendary German Workshop on dance: The best talents well as police personnel. 54 patients goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and the from the cultural competition organ- were given first-aid during this period. Bayern Munich football team. The Bayern Munich delegation was led TALK TO US by 1947 World Cup winner Uli Hoe- ness. They shared the dais with Indian Dial 100 for Emergency football Olympians Sailen Manna, Chuni Goswami, Sahu Mewalal, Dial 1090 to give P K Banerjee and Sayed Naimuddin. any information An audience of about 6,000 people in- cluding children from the Nabadisha to the Police project of Kolkata Police, watched the Dial 1073 for issues show. The high point of the cere- mony was Oliver Kahn’s speech in related to Traffic faultless Bengali which left all pres- (Left) Oliver Kahn kicking a football at the opening of the Friendship Cup 2008; (above) participants (All numbers are toll free) ent pleasantly surprised. at the first-aid workshop IMPORTANT INFORMATION Website www.kolkatapolice.org 1073 (toll free); from Vodafone and Airtel ‘800’(toll free) Published by Manab Bandyopadhyay Email [email protected] SMS ‘trf’to 575756 for latest traffic updates by return Public Relations Officer, Kolkata Police Lalbazar EPABX +91 33 2250 5000 SMS (chargeable); powered by SMS Xprez 18 Lalbazar Street, Kolkata 700 001 Senior Citizen Helpline + 91 98300 88884 Public Grievance Cell +91 33 2250 5134 Control Room, Lalbazar + 91 33 22505090, 22143024/ Traffic Cell: 98308 11111 / 98300 10000 Designed and printed by Bee Ideas 3230 & 1090 (toll free) Women Crisis Response Centre: 1091 20/3 Ballygunge Place, Kolkata 700 019 Traffic Control Room + 91 33 22143644 / 22505096 & Medical Helpline: 98300 7999 +91 33 2440 0642 / 9830052226