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MY STORY: Does Dialing Emergency Number 100 Actually Work? I Found Out One Night!

When Batul Netterwala experienced a break-in in her Mumbai apartment one night, she picked up the phone and dialed 100. Here's what followed.


In the MY STORY section, we present some of the most compelling and pertinent stories and experiences shared with us by our readers. Do you have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com with “MY STORY” in the subject line.

When Batul Netterwala experienced a break-in in her Mumbai apartment one night, she picked up the phone and dialed 100. Here’s what followed.

In the middle of the night, sometime at around 3.30-4am on the 31st of December, 2013, some guy opened a window in our house and tried to steal our bags lying nearby. We raised an alarm and he ran away.

But as we were just 3 girls and we were scared he would return, I dialed 100.

police1Photo: © Thinkstock photos/ Getty Images

A woman answered the phone:

She: Mumbai police control center. How may I help you?

Me: Someone just tried to break into our house, we raised an alarm and he ran away. We fear he might return with something more dangerous and we are just three girls and very scared.

She: Do you want me to send someone?

Me: Yes please!

police2Photo: mumbaionline.in

She took down my number and address and within minutes I got a call from the nearest chowki informing me that they were sending a patroller and he might call for instructions on how to reach us.

In five minutes two police men were in our house.

After thoroughly checking and asking the neighbours to keep an eye on us, they left. The guy even gave us his personal cell number and told us not to hesitate to contact him as he would be on night duty for a week in our area and he promised us he would make it a point to patrol in our area every night.

– Batul Netterwala

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).

About the author: Batul Netterwala is a mass media graduate currently working as a freelance content writer.
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