Drunk policemen will be dismissed, warns police chief

L B Nagar: Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwath on Thursday warned that the department personnel who come to office drunk or consume liquor during office hours would be permanently sent home.

Following public complaints that police personnel are performing duties after getting drunk and returning home in an inebriated state or moving in streets, the Commissioner of Police on Thursday launched a unique programme of conducting breathlyser tests for the staff in all police stations once in the morning after coming to duty and in the evening, when they leave for residence.

The Law and Order staff of Chaitanyapuri and Saroornagar police stations and the Traffic wing personnel conducted breathlyser tests for the department employees on Thursday. This is to ensure that the law is equal for all, including policemen, and to counter public stand that none bothers about drunk policemen, Bhagawat added.

Responding to Bhagwat's directive of conducting breathlyser tests for the department staff, L B Nagar Traffic Circle Inspector of Police Nagamallu told The Hans India that such tests should be conducted for those who come for duty in L B Nagar, Chaitanyapuri, Saroornagar, besides Traffic and L & O wings, so that "We are answerable to the people". This is necessary, he pointed out, "As once you are stable you can question others".