A Surprise Visit

In a major tribal district of Madhya Pradesh, a young woman in a simple cotton saree, unaccompanied, walked into a police station one hot summer afternoon. The thana was forlorn and unusually quiet. She entered the Thanedar’s room to find the Inspector fast asleep, feet on the office table, rifle stacked carelessly in a corner.

“Thanedar Sa’ab,” she called. He was enjoying his siesta, perhaps after imbibing mahua, and roused himself most reluctantly after several calls. Still groggy, he asked, “Bai, bol, kya kaam hai? Sidhe kamre mein kyun ghus aayi? Koi katal ho gaya kya?”

“I’m the DM, here to inspect this thana. Where is everybody? Why are you sleeping in the office, and why is your rifle lying in that corner? Someone could easily steal it,” she said.

The startled Thanedar sprang to his feet, managed a hasty salute, and rushed out to summon his subordinates for the lady DM’s surprise inspection.

Afterward, she returned to headquarters and issued suspension orders. A few days later, the Chief Secretary circulated the incident to all District Collectors as an example of how field officials should be kept on their toes.

Sarita, a popular Hindi monthly, carried the story with the eye-catching caption: Lady DM visits Thana in guise of a tribal woman.

That was long ago. Recently, I asked the senior colleague, “Did you really go in disguise as a tribal woman?”

“No,” she smiled. “I was new in the district, and had left my jeep and staff a little away from the thana. How could the sleeping Thanedar have guessed the DM would walk in alone? There was no need for disguise.”

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