Full-fledged police station with only 3 cases, staff deployed as orderlies

According to reliable sources, the station, named IMH police station (G4) which has a strength similar to that of other Metro II police stations in the city, has so far registered only three cases this year.

From details of manpower strength at this particular station made available to DTNext, of the total police personnel, except for 11 cops including an inspector, a station writer, two constables and three cops with health problems, all others work elsewhere.

“Most of the station strength have been deployed as orderlies. They work as orderlies in places as far as Tiruchy, in the office of an IG of a police unit while many others are ‘posted’ in Chennai itself.

Some work in the houses of retired senior officers while yet others are posted in the offices of various government departments, be it Coastal Security Wing, EOW, SCRB, Home Guards, CM’s Office, Railway ADGP, Police Housing, State police HQ, State Election Commission office, CM’s cell, STF IG’s office, Civil Supply CID, IPS Officers’ Mess, residence of a politician and even in control room at the DGP’s office,” sources said.

When contacted, a senior officer admitted to the existence of such a practice. However, he was quick to add that it was better to use strength from such inactive stations for ‘Other Duty’ purposes than picking from every station. “Not all of them are sent on OD as orderlies, but some are also deployed in other police stations where we need staff. You should look at it as a useful and effective deployment of manpower,” noted S Manoharan, Joint Commissioner of Police, East.

However, head constable A Manivannan, working in the Institute of Mental Health in Ayanavaram station in his petition, sent to the Governor and State Chief Secretary, has stated that it was a blatant misuse of manpower and money from the government exchequer. IMH is one of the oldest existing police outposts in the city as it functioned ever since the mental asylum was opened on the 170-acres premises. The outpost was upgraded to Metro II station in 2013 with a sanctioned strength of 100.