The second edition of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti’s Janata Darbar on Tuesday descended into chaos, with angry citizens staging a protest outside the commissioner’s office over alleged mismanagement.
The Janata Darbar initiative, launched last week, aims to provide Mumbai residents with a direct platform to voice grievances and seek redressal from the city’s top cop. However, despite expectations of a heavy turnout on August 12, police officials reportedly failed to make adequate arrangements.
No Appointment, No Token – Crowd Control Failure
Since its launch, the police have maintained that no prior appointment or token is required to attend the Janata Darbar. This open policy meant that a large number of citizens arrived at the commissioner’s office on Tuesday with their complaints.
By 4 p.m., the gathering had swelled to the point where police began stopping people at the entrance gate. Denied entry after waiting for hours, frustrated citizens created a commotion, forcing the gates to be shut temporarily.
Protest Forces Temporary Closure
The protest lasted nearly an hour, requiring the deployment of additional police personnel to restore order. Eventually, people were allowed in one by one, but the incident has raised serious questions over planning and crowd management.
Criticism Over Poor Planning
Critics argue that given the absence of an appointment system and the predictable public interest, authorities should have anticipated and prepared for the rush. Many have called for introducing a token or online registration system to avoid future disruptions.
