fake cops/police/the old bill on train...

Vicky

Ok 3rd class non a/c....travelling with rather interesting Jamacian/English man. The beauty of the views makes us decide to move to the front section of the train so we can film the train snaking around the bends with a small digi camera.

On the train young boys have walking up and down selling Chai, sweeping the floor and asking for a little cash and generally tring to scratch a living on the train. I have givin the floor sweeper 10 Rupees as he is cute and the floor is better once he has cleaned it.

As I move to the front of the train with my bag, I see this boy being held on the floor by a overweight, hairy uppperlipped brute who is hitting him now and agin. This is the boy who has swept the floor. This man (hairy upper lip big belly) Then grabs another child and gives him a good bash too.
At this point I ask him what ''the fcuk do you think your doing?!' He does not reply. I then ask the whole carrige "why is this happening why is everyone just sat watching and who is this twat?" An Indian lady wispers......"He is the police". I ask to see ID. He shows me some, but to be honest I just want to get the boys off him as they are very distressed. Then my friend comes up the train with the camera and his bag and is filming. Now some other guys have rounded up all the chai/beggers and have sat them with me and the Indian Lady.
Look I will have to finish this later sorry mate, I have to go to an interview....
So to be continued

Vicky

they where also taking smokes of anyone caught smoking by the dooor....wish me look for my interview please.

Vicky

luck even...lol

steven_ber

Good luck Vicky, give em hell.

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Digital Drifter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letterhead

The part which contains pics/logos with official ornate seals which tells the reader, this is (apparently) the real deal. Usually will contain the Office /designation of the person.

If you see a letter which says 'ministry of Defense' on the top, with flowery letters and a multitude of seals, you can see the difference it makes to some official who tries to boss over people without justification.

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edwardseco

Show enthusiasm and confidence. Take charge of the interview without assaulting anyone.

Oh, letterhead is official departmental stationary. Leave the seal showing. First trip back from India, 3 customs/immigration officials stood in a line and saluted me, forget having my luggage checked. Freaked me out until I saw a sheaf of white house and dept. of state letterhead sticking out of my passport wallet. I don't run in such exalted company. But, I had a govt. language grant and needed a signature for clearance. Since it was Watergate nobody was signing spitzel. Wandered over to the white house and finally got a very nice man going in to sign for me..

steven_ber

OK, thanks for the explanation, I've now re-read ed's first post and see where letterheads entered into the thread. (that's what I'd been confused about)

New-South-Welshman

Hmmmm I guess I have something better than a letterhead. I got into a fight like 6 months ago and a pistol was pulled out and I was whipped across the face. I went to the police and put in a report. I was then given this card which said "NSW Police" blah blah blah and a line for where the constable could write her/his name. I could easily paste on my name across the constables and then maybe laminate it.

Anyway, I rarely saw police brutality in India. I know it happens, but the worst I seen is a cop demanding this poor kid to shine his shoes.

Vicky, hopefully you get back on a computer quickly. Want to hear the end of it!

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Vicky

So after another day of pointless nonsense in Bangalore I am back online.
The Chai boys and beggers are rounded up and are sat around me along with various fake police who are taking their names and generally making a horrible display. They let most of the boys go except one, the one I have given 10 Rupees to. He is very upset. I give him a drink and the Indian lady next to me gives him her lunch. My travelling companion is very pissed off with me for getting involved and is being really arsey. The policeman (whatever) asks me if I want to buy the boy for 1000 Rupees, I said yes and told him to sit with me and then refused to give my cash. They let him sit next to me for around an hour then close to Hampi removed him and took him down the train, he went very calmly and was not distressed this time. I expected to see them on the platform but they stayed on the train.
My so called mate came to police station after 2hrs of heated disscussion where the police were not at all interested and he claimed a bag was lost??? (jerk, using this to claim insurence..)
And thats the end of the tale...sad really
Oh I also went to the police in Bangalore and got the same response....think I might move to Bombay

ranjan154

Yes, Railways have RPF, and almost on all major stations they have office/pickets. One can approach then if needed..But they can mainly to protect railway property.. i am not sure how much they care for passengers

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New-South-Welshman

Would it be possible that this was all a scam that the fake cop and the kid were in together. I mean, they spot tourists and try to milk 'em? It could be just a silly, pessimistic thought of mine though.

Pebble

Haha, I was wondering the same thing. Any guesses on what a letterhead is. Maybe a letterheaded bit of paper which say "oi, you're knicked". Not sure I could pull that off with a policeman....seeing as I'm not one myself!! Not only what they are but how does one collect them??? The plot thickens

Pebble

Actually, this whole business of scams on a train somewhat concerns me: I'm not sure what you can do if a policeman asks for money or the like, it's not like you can kick up a fuss cos the last thing you want is to cause problems. I travelled in a group in China so we didn't have problems there and I must say, I didn't have any grief in Thailand. But India is going to be a first for me.

Nick-H

Worry not... I've barely spoken to an Indian policeman.

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PeakXV

I've never had a policeman speak to me at all in 10+ years of travelling to India, so that in it's own right would raise a flag of suspicion ... let alone to ask for money to stop a public flogging.

If it ever did happen I can't help but think about re-enacting the old Hope/Crosby Road Show - Paddy Cake, Paddy Cake - Baker's Man movie routine where they culminate in punching out the thug and bolting from the scene.

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?