The Mumbai police is planning to prepare a list of all officials in its force, who are addicted to tobacco products or liquor; the officials will then be put through a de-addiction programme. The plan will be initiated at the police station level.
The announcement was made by police commissioner Dr Satyapal Singh at the Grievance Redressal Day (GRD) on Saturday.
Recently, the city police’s image took a heavy beating when news of an assistant police inspector being murdered by his wife due to his alcoholism, came to light.
Speaking at the GRD, Mr Singh said, “We will first find out if there are officials in our force, who are addicted to liquor or tobacco products. We will then seek help from Alcoholic Anonymous and other NGOs to get them rehabilitated.”
He added, “Every senior police inspector at the police station level will have to make a list of officials and men under him, who suffer from addictions.”
When asked if a medical test would be conducted to ascertain it, Mr Singh replied in the negative.
On April 28, a 43-year-old assistant police inspector Nandkishore Takasalkar posted at the local arms division in Marol, was brutally murdered by his wife Parvati in his sleep.
Hours before the incident took place, Takasalkar under the influence of alcohol, had fought with his wife and accused her of having an extra-marital affair. His wife smashed his head with a hammer and a kaddappa stone.
According to police sources, the couple was facing marital problems due to Takasalkar’s addiction to alcohol. A reliable police source said that most of Takasalkar’s colleagues were aware of his addiction, but didn’t do enough to help him get rid of his misery.