Mumbai:
On Tuesday, the Mumbai Police issued a diktat that has left the city stumped. Before making a call from a Public Call Office (PCO), people will now have to furnish an identity proof. It doesn't end here. The booth operator needs to maintain a register where he has to note down details like name, address, and number of the person to whom the call was made.
The police says this measure will curb the menace of prank calls, and calls made for extortion and black-mailing. It also claims that many anti-social elements use PCO booths to make calls and be connected with their fellow gang members or accomplices.
Speaking at an event organised for cancer affected patients on December 25, the Commissioner of Police, Satyapal Singh, told the press, "We have asked the booth operators to abide by the directive. The local police station will ensure that the booth operators or owners abide by the directive."
NDTV spoke to a couple of booth operators for their reactions. Seema Shah, who runs a booth in the central suburbs of Mumbai, said, "This move is detrimental to our business. Along with the PCO, I run a photocopy shop. How can I manage to maintain a register while looking after my other business? It's an impractical move."
Another booth owner had a similar reaction. "My booth is opposite a hospital and people come here to make emergency calls. How can I ask them to furnish ID proof? This is so impractical. I have installed a CCTV and the police can take the footage if any suspicious call has been made from my booth," Prajakta Vora told NDTV.
The problem doesn't end here. Many owners are often allotted phone booths on account of their special needs to help them earn a living - many of them are visually impaired and checking the identity proof of callers would be a big challenge for them.
Many PCOs are also located outside railway stations and hospitals where people have to make urgent calls. Now, without an identity proof, they won't be able to do so.
The police says this measure will curb the menace of prank calls, and calls made for extortion and black-mailing. It also claims that many anti-social elements use PCO booths to make calls and be connected with their fellow gang members or accomplices.
Speaking at an event organised for cancer affected patients on December 25, the Commissioner of Police, Satyapal Singh, told the press, "We have asked the booth operators to abide by the directive. The local police station will ensure that the booth operators or owners abide by the directive."
NDTV spoke to a couple of booth operators for their reactions. Seema Shah, who runs a booth in the central suburbs of Mumbai, said, "This move is detrimental to our business. Along with the PCO, I run a photocopy shop. How can I manage to maintain a register while looking after my other business? It's an impractical move."
Another booth owner had a similar reaction. "My booth is opposite a hospital and people come here to make emergency calls. How can I ask them to furnish ID proof? This is so impractical. I have installed a CCTV and the police can take the footage if any suspicious call has been made from my booth," Prajakta Vora told NDTV.
The problem doesn't end here. Many owners are often allotted phone booths on account of their special needs to help them earn a living - many of them are visually impaired and checking the identity proof of callers would be a big challenge for them.
Many PCOs are also located outside railway stations and hospitals where people have to make urgent calls. Now, without an identity proof, they won't be able to do so.
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