Number game

Owing to his talent of recognising vehicle number series in one glance,Police Naik Mahesh Vasant Nimbalkar,has solved over a number of vehicle-theft cases in just five months

As a child,it was a routine for Mahesh Vasant Nimbalkar to watch his father,a police official,rise up early,put on the khaki uniform and set out for work. He used to be the most attentive listener,whenever his father discussed any crime-related case at home. So,when it came to deciding his career,it was the most natural step to follow his fathers footsteps and join police department. Yet,there is something that sets him apart from not only his father but also others serving in police department. Currently posted at Deccan Police Station,Pune Police Department,police naik Nimbalkar is gifted with a unique skill. At one go,he can recognise whether a particular vehicle number belongs to a two-wheeler,four-wheeler or permit series. In a span of just five months,he has cracked around 72 cases,most of them related to vehicle-theft. The most recent case that he has solved is when he caught an MBA girl,who had stolen as many as six Activa two-wheelers. He has been felicitated with cash awards for all major cases that he cracked in the past five months.

However,Nimbalkar gives a modest explanation and says,I have studied the RTO records of the past 25 years and have got a fair idea of the pattern of the vehicle series. So,whenever I come across a vehicle with an unusual number plate,for instance,a two-wheeler with four-wheeler vehicle number or permit vehicle number,I immediately get to know that the vehicle is stolen.

Apart from vehicle theft cases,Nimbalkar has been actively involved in solving cases related to different crimes like robbery,murder,dacoity,attempt to murder and so on. Infact,he says,it is the risk involved in his job that gives him a high and motivates him to perform better. At times,I myself go to my bosses and request them to put me on to an interesting case, says Nimbalkar,who has been serving in the police department from the past 21 years.

He points out that it is extremely important for a police employee to have a good network in various sections of the society,in order to solve different cases. Besides,he adds,One should be self-motivated to go that extra mile. I do not hesitate in handling a case even if it doesnt fall in the area under the police station I am posted at.

Nimbalkars colleagues and seniors are all praises for him. Manohar Joshi,senior inspector,Deccan Police Station,says,I know Nimbalkar for over a year now. He is extremely hard-working,disciplined and someone who never hesitates in working beyond his duty hours or area.”

He admits that whenever he travels out of Pune in relation to some crime case,his wife and other family members do get worried about him. A little bit of danger is always there but then its a part of my profession and I dont regret it a bit, he explains.

As far as his two daughters,a three-year-old and 10-year-old,are concerned,Nimbalkar is quite confident that the elder one might end up joining the armed forces. She loves sports and has a nature similar to mine. I will be more than happy if she also decides to join police department, he concludes.

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