Mumbai:
Mumbai Police has begun installing complaint boxes at various public places in the city like railway stations, cinema halls, temples among others in which citizens can drop in their written complaints and need not go to police station.
At a recently-held programme, Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil said citizens could now leave their complaint letters in these boxes.
The minister also directed the police to file suo moto FIRs if letters about serious cases are found in the complaint box.
"If serious information or complaint is received through the letters, then police should register FIR and take action accordingly," he said.
"Identity of those who provide vital information to police about criminal activities through complaint boxes, would not be revealed and they will be rewarded," the minister said.
According to a senior police officer, the complaint box system will come into force from Monday.
"Under one police station, 10 complaint boxes will be installed. Complaints could be about issues like eve-teasing, robbery, suspected terror activities, etc," DCP (Special Branch) Sanjay Shintre told PTI.
Mr Patil also said the Mumbai police's initiative of holding interactions with senior citizens would be replicated in other major cities of the state.
"The programme by the Mumbai Police to meet senior citizens and take up their grievances is getting positive results. This programme will now be launched in a phase-wise manner in other big cities of Maharashtra later," Mr Patil said.