Tirhut range inspector-general of police Gupteshwar Pandey listens to the problems of Mohsina Khatun during the CM janata darbar in Patna on Monday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, May 2: Saran superintendent of police (SP) today got a dose of the frustration that chief minister Nitish Kumar and other officials face from complainants at their janata darbars.

Such an incident occurred at Nitish’s darbar as 60-year-old Mohsina Khatun from Chhapra put forward her grievances to the chief minister, after which he directed her to visit the table of inspector-general of police (Tirhut zone) Gupteshwar Pandey.

Soon after she left Nitish’s table, she started shouting on the Saran SP. By the time she reached Pandey’s table, her voice had become very high.

Her reason, however, was genuine.

When Pandey asked about her problem, Mohsina said: “My son has been killed in an issue related to land dispute and his body was cremated without any medical check-up. I complained this to the SP but he did not listen to me. I want you to take action against him as soon as possible.”

Usually, officials sitting on the table call up the official concerned, but Pandey chose not to do so. He handed over the phone to Mohsina, so that she could talk to the Saran SP A.K. Satyarthi.

Even before the phone could reach her ears, she started shouting.

“What are you doing in the office? Why are you not listening to my problems? I have visited your office many times but each time you have avoided me. What is going on in my son’s murder case? You are just looting the people by occupying the top post in the district,” she said.

She kept shouting for about 15 minutes and Pandey was just listening to her. In between she also verbally abused the SP but nobody stopped her.

After the lady left the table of the IG, Pandey told The Telegraph: “I had gauged her anger after I saw her face. She was very angry on the SP (Satyarthi) and this was the only way to calm her down. After all I am sitting here to satisfy the complainants and not to please anyone. My way of working may be different from the others but I am doing my duty. I know, if she would have done the same thing in front of the SP, she would probably have been behind the bars by now.”

He said: “I think, in a democratic society everyone has the right to speak and tell us about their problems. In my words the whole concept of janata darbar is to satisfy the complainants, at least she has returned somewhat satisfied. This is what I wanted. SPs and DSPs are not available to listen to the woes of the common people, but this phone will surely leave an impact. The official got a lesson. Next time around, he will not take her problems lightly. A call from the chief minister’s house is a big thing. It will teach him a lesson and the next time he will be cautious before avoiding any complainant.”

Not all officials, however, agreed with this practice. Some went on to show disappointment over it.

“I do not think an SP deserves to be treated like this by a civilian. After all he is an officer. I did not understand how the IG allowed the woman to talk like this,” a senior official at the janata darbar told The Telegraph.