HYDERABAD: Lost among hundreds of forwards that were being passed around on WhatsApp, one photograph that made us curious was the latest one released by the Hyderabad City Police. The impressive poster urges people to make use of the many applications to connect with them. Citizens can get in touch with the Police through multiple applications – WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter for information, Hawk Eye app that works as a tool for citizen policing, Hyderabad Traffic Live mobile app for traffic updates and Lost Report app that helps you secure lost reports.
We conducted a little experiment to find out if the department is as responsive as they promise to be.
What we did?
Hyderabad Police is always ‘Online’ on WhatsApp on the number – 94906 16555. We sent them a question – “Hello, I am resident of Tarnaka and I want to know what is the protocol to lodge a complaint against my neighbours digging more than one bore well. Please help. “Though the status of the number showed online, they didn’t respond for the next 20 minutes. So, we sent the same message via Facebook messenger. The page described them to be ‘very responsive’ to messages. True to that, they replied in the next two minutes, . “Good evening madam, can we have the exact location where you resides?”
We shared further details and they directed us to the Cyberabad Police Limits. “Madam as your residing location comes under Cyberabad police limits, contact them on their Facebook page or on their WhatsApp number 9490617444(sic),” along with the link to Cyberabad’s Facebook page. By this time, we also received the same question and reply to the WhatsApp number.
We tweeted another question to the Hyderabad City Police page, “Hello, need info about lodging a complaint against rising beggar menace. Whom should I approach?” But, there was no response on this social platform. The other applications Hawk Eye, Traffic Live Mobile App might be too heavy on your phone’s RAM. You can give that a skip and connect with them via Facebook or WhatsApp.