Lok Satta

· The local police unit which is usually responsible for crime investigation or protection of citizens in a police station. Each such police station has about 25 to 50 policemen -usually constables and head constables. Each police station is headed by a Station House Officer (SHO). The SHO is usually of a Sub-Inspector's rank. In cities, the SHO may be of inspector's rank.
· In our state, there is a police station for almost every Mandal. In towns and cities, there are several police stations, each with a specified territory for which it is responsible.
· A few police stations together form a circle, under a Circle Inspector (CI), and a few circles together form a sub-division, under a Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO). Usually a CI is of Inspector's rank and the SDPO is of Deputy Superintendent's rank (DSP).
· The police in each district are under the Superintendent of Police (SP). For every revenue district, there is usually one SP. In Vzag and Vijayawada, there is a separate urban police force under a city Commissioner of police. In Hyderabad city, there is a vast police force with Police Commissioner as the chief. The Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) are responsible for various zones in the city.

How to lodge a complaint?

· Whenever you are a victim of a crime-a theft, robbery, assault, cheating etc, you must file complaint with the local police. A written complaint must be filed before the SHO of the police station responsible for your area.
· Usually the following details must be given in the complaint.
· Time and place of offence
· Nature of offence
· Description Properties lost Injuries suffered etc.
· The person(s) who committed the offence
· The person(s) who is/are suspected to have committed the offence
· Any information to help the police in identifying the offenders
· Any other relevant information
(An illiterate person can seek help from someone else to draft the complaint)
· The SHO, upon receiving your complaint will record it and give you a receipt as a token of acknowledgement. The SHO will register the First Information Report (FIR), which is a record of your complaint. A copy of the FIR will be handed over to you, and your acknowledgement will be obtained. There will also be an entry in a register called General Dairy (GD). This GD entry is one of the evidences and you should make sure that such an entry in made.
· Once the complaint is made, it is now the responsibility of the police to investigate the crime and prosecute the offenders. If you are a victim of an assault, and if you are injured, the police will take you to Medical Officer for an examination of the injury. The police may have to inspect the site of offence, and question the people connected with the crime or witnesses. You must extend full cooperation to the police, and answer their questions truthfully and accurately.
· If there is delay in investigation, or if a serious complaint is ignored by the police, please approach the next higher official for help.
· Please do not bring pressure on the police to take into custody persons against whom there is no evidence. Often people tend to implicate servants at home without any evidence.
· Please do not pressurize police to beat up or torture suspects for a forced confession or recovery of stolen property because of your carelessness, then you cannot blame the police. Your money, jewels or documents have to be protected by you, and not the police.
· Usually police cannot have the time or resources to investigate every petty offence or small theft. Please do not make trivial complaints. You will only make the task of the police difficult, without any benefit to you.
· If you need any assistance, please contact the local Lok Satta unit for guidance and information. If there is no local unit, please form one in consultation with Lok Satta district branch or apex unit.

About Us