Seized vehicles pile up at Bengaluru police stations raising fire and safety concerns

Bengaluru police face fire hazards as seized vehicles accumulate in stations, raising urgent safety and operational concerns.

The fire at Banaswadi Police Station on Wednesday that damaged more than 20 vehicles may be an isolated incident, but several other police stations across the city remain vulnerable to similar hazards.

Thousands of seized vehicles are gathering dust within police station premises and even on the footpaths outside stations across the city. “Several police station premises look like garages or abandoned land. Some of the vehicles are nearly a decade old,” a senior officer from the north division said.

The officer noted that such heaps of vehicles at the stations are an open invitation to fire accidents that could be triggered by a minor oversight, such as a discarded cigarette or matchstick.

The situation arose after the police department was asked to shift seized vehicles from Jakkarayanakere, where they were usually dumped. At least four officers The Hindu spoke to confirmed that the shift was the result of political interference, reportedly aimed at monetising the land given its prime location.

However, according to police sources, years of neglect by officers who failed to auction the seized vehicles after cases were settled also contributed to the problem.

“There is an SOP for the auction of seized vehicles. Had the rules been followed and the vehicles auctioned in a timely manner, such a situation would not have arisen,” a senior police officer admitted.