Reporter’s diary: Are cops never off duty? This ‘snoring’ reply will make you wonder

The fact that they must be readily available on the phone itself blurs the distinction between their personal, professional and social lives.  

One fine afternoon recently, this scribe contacted an Assistant Commissioner of Greater Chennai Police (Chennai East zone) over the phone to get some inputs about an incident that happened in his jurisdiction. 

He immediately picked up the call but his voice sounded hoarse and dull. When asked whether he would be able to speak, the Assistant Commissioner asked this reporter to go ahead. So, the scribe quickly narrated what he had heard and asked the officer to clarify, but there was no response from the other end.

Seconds later, he heard a bizarre noise from the other end. It took a while for the reporter to understand that it was the sound of snoring and that the Assistant Commissioner had fallen asleep even before he could respond to the query. The scribe ended the call after waiting for a few more seconds.

Thankfully, it was not some higher official at the other end. Else, he would have faced some serious action. Or maybe, he would not have fallen asleep if it really were his superiors.