Citygritty — Pune

Chowk there!How would the police try to get a confession out of an accused? Police Commissioner K.K. Kashyap, speaking at a function organis...

Chowk there!
How would the police try to get a confession out of an accused? Police Commissioner K.K. Kashyap, speaking at a function organised by the Kumari Rajshree Parmar Memorial Foundation, said he had a novel technique up his sleeve. “Make the accused stand at the Dhole-Patil Chowk, popularly known as the Seven Loves Chowk, which is notorious for being an accident spot, and the mad rush of traffic will frighten the accused into confession,” he said, adding that it was indeed ironic that the name Seven Loves’ should be attached to such an accident-prone spot.

Break rules, face music
While most citizens complain about the growing risk of accidents due to rash driving, they do nothing to tackle the issue. MLA Girish Bapat is not one to sit idle when those who use the road flout traffic regulations. “Whenever I spot someone who has broken traffic rules, I immediately report him to the police. Recently, I confronted a drunk auto-rickshaw driver and took him to the police station before he could cause any harm to other road-users,” Bapat said, talking at a function organised by the Kumari Rajshree Parmar Memorial Foundation.

“Whether it is a bicycle or a two-wheeler driver overtaking from the wrong side or cutting lanes, the least that citizens can do is report him to the traffic police authorities,” he said. While Bapat stressed the need for citizens’ initiative on this score, Public Works Minister Nitin Gadkari pointed out that the authorities, too, should help commuters by putting up boards that warn of an accident-prone spot ahead.

Security check
Just how safe is your neighbourhood? With an alarming increase in the number of bold burglaries, film-maker Suvarnasingh Chaddha has sought to create awareness among citizens through his video film.

Inspired by the Your neighbour, your friend’ scheme, mooted by Police Commissioner K.K. Kashyap, Chaddha produced and directed a film aimed at increasing awareness among citizens about safety measures and showing how a close-knit neighbourhood network can help prevent crime.

“I thought that this concept could reach more people through the audio-visual medium.” The 20-minute film, which took two months to be completed, demonstrates the importance of a healthy neighbourhood network, and through various sequences, seeks to make citizens aware of their rights and responsibilities while alerting them about the modus operandi followed by burglars.

“The video has been shot in Hindi and Marathi and also features actors Dharmendra, Raza Murad, Rameshwari and Jayamala Shiledar, who offer advice to citizens,” says Chaddha, who enlisted the help of son Vikram and members of the Erandwane Sarvajanik Mandal to make this film. The film, dedicated to the memory of Chaddha’s sister Sunita Kochar, was aired on cable networks during the Ganeshotsav and Navratri festivals.

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“The film shows how residents of housing societies can make for a safer environment by adopting simple measures,” says Chaddha. Surely an idea whose time has come.

Thursday with tequila
Weekends in this town seem to begin from Thursdays itself, if the 10 Downing Street’s Thursday dos are anything to go by. The pub is now playing host to a Jose Cuervo Ritual Nite on November 19. Along with loads of games, Latin American music and a befitting ambience, there is, aptly enough, even a pronounce the theme correctly contest.’

Jose Cuervo, incidentally, inform organisers Genesis, was the first tequila producer – the man who made the brew way back in 1795. While the man is obviously no more, his spirit, undoubtedly, lives on!