Ludhiana: At the women’s cells of Ludhiana police commissionerate, there is not enough room to swing a cat.
The space shortage in all four women cells causes inconvenience not only to the police personnel, but also to the visitors, especially those who have to wait with elderly and children.
Earlier there was only one women’s cell near Lakkar Bridge, besides one women’s police station, but about two years ago three more cells were set up.
Now, all four zones of the commissionerate have one women’s cell each to deal with the complaints of their respective zones.
The zone-1 cell is being run in an old building near Lakkar Bridge.
The condition of the office is such that the visitors have to sit on the floor to wait for their turns.
Earlier, the women’s police station was also being run from the building, but then it was temporarily shifted to the office of ACP (Civil Lines).
When the TOI team visited the zone-1 cell building, it was in an untidy state.
The visitors were standing in an open area under the sun for their turns, while some were sitting on the floor.
The washrooms were unhygienic.
The furniture seized by the cops in different cases was also kept in the open.
Due to rain and the sun, the case properties have been completely damaged.
A woman, who had come there with her six-year-old daughter, said, “The investigations take quite a long time.
We have to come with children and it is uncomfortable here as there is no waiting room.
Some women come with toddlers and wait in the open in harsh weather conditions.
There should be at least a waiting area for visitors.” A panellist, who counsels couples, said, “The counselling goes on for hours and one cannot even use the washroom as it is in a pathetic condition.
Some complainants come with their elderly parents and some with their children.
They suffer due to lack of basic infrastructure.” Sub-inspector Kiran Lata, in charge of the women’s cell of zone-1, said they have about 13 cops and somehow they manage work from the building.
“The visitors face more problems as there is no waiting space for them.
However, the new building is almost complete and soon all women’s cells will be shifted there,” she said.
Sub-inspector Kulwant Kaur, in charge of the women’s cell of zone-4, said, “We have eight staffers, including five investigating officers.
We have got one room in the building of NRI police station.
However, due to space crunch, some staffers are accommodated in Division 7 police station.”Zone-2 cell is being run from the Dugri police station.
The in-charge has been given one room, and two more staffers operate from the building of zone-1 women’s cell and one investigating officer sits in the building of Sanjh Kendra in Dugri.In zone-3 cell being run in Sarabha Nagar police station, the in-charge and two more investigating officers are given a room, besides two staffers are accommodated in Sanjh Kendra.
According to officials, the new building in Rishi Nagar was almost ready and it has a waiting area and a separate room for children.