Moved by the dilapidated state of Pirbahore police station building, its first officer in-charge Uma Nath Verma has recently made a token donation of Rs 5,001 to chief minister Nitish Kumar for its renovation.
"Honourable chief minister, I hereby make a token donation of Rs 5,001 for the renovation of the building in Patna," read Verma's letter attached with the Rs 5,001 cheque of the State Bank of India (SBI).
Verma, who had the distinction of being the first officer-in-charge of the state's first model police station in free India, is 91 now. He has been shuttling between his Sri Krishna Puri residence and hospital for treatment. Even on Friday, he had to undergo dialysis at a private nursing home.
Now frail and fatigued, Verma has the distinction of becoming a superintendent of police from a sub-inspector. He was shocked to learn about the dilapidated condition of the building of the police station where he served as the officer in-charge about half-a-century ago.
"Having learnt with shock about Pirbahore police station building having suddenly cracked... I hereby humbly donate a sum of Rs 5,001, to be spent for its reconstruction and reconditioning as a mighty police station," Verma's letter stated.
The letter sent on September 19, 2012 was attached with a cheque (No. 093363) of Rs 5,001 from his pension account with the secretariat branch of SBI. "It may be a meagre amount for others, but it has a lot of meaning for a man like me, who is surviving on pension," he told The Telegraph.
Verma has forwarded a copy of his letter to the finance minister, director-general of police and others seeking their help and donation for restoring the historic police station in the city centre.
The state's first model police station was inaugurated by the chief minister then Sri Krishna Singh on August 15, 1948, exactly a year after Independence. Verma, then a young man, was appointed as its first officer in-charge.
Verma recalled that he was rewarded for his excellent performance as the officer-in-charge of the model police station. "I was promoted and rewarded with Rs 100 for running the police station successfully on model lines," he said, adding that the decision to reward him was taken by a select committee constituted by the police headquarters to inspect and reward officers.
Verma was all praise for the Nitish-led government for the all-round development of the state. "… At the fag end of my life, every day heartily admiring and showering blessings on the present government and the team of dedicated personnel (which you are leading) for its untiring efforts and successful deliberations in all branches of public welfare, I beseech you most fervently to accept this humble commemorative donation and add adequate fund from the government side to get Pirbahore police station reconstructed and reconditioned to make it work as 'tower police station'," the letter stated.
The letter created a flutter in the police headquarters. A senior officer said a team of officials of Bihar Police Building Construction Corporation was sent to Pirbahore thana (police station) to assess the condition of its building.
Incumbent station house officer of Pirbahore police station S.A. Hashmi said: "A team of officials from the BPBCC visited the police station about three-four days back. But nothing has happened."
Hashmi said he had erected a pandal (makeshift tent) on the police station premises from where the police station functions.
"Rainwater gushes into the office of the station house officer. Similar is the condition of the sirista (room meant for officials)," the SHO said.