The Oddest News Stories

Of Life that is Stranger than Fiction

Aug 12, 2024

Not all news from India makes it to the international or even national press.

Some stories are downright funny, odd, or unusual, easily fitting into a "stranger than fiction" series. Others are outright outliers.

Each one showcases some peculiar human behaviors, regardless of cultural background.

So, I thought I’d begin to share a few of these stories to present a slice of life that’s commonly visible to locals who regularly read newspapers!

Discretionary warning: Some may find these stories upsetting or insensitive!

The Missing Milk

The owner of a milk tanker filed a complaint with the police, known as a First Information Report (FIR), after discovering that his tanker's capacity of 5,500 gallons was reduced to 1,850 gallons of milk due to theft.

The irony?

Two drivers lost their lives in the accident when the tanker collided with a crane mounted on a truck on a national highway. Yet here is the quote from the local police:

“We registered an FIR after theft and are trying to identify the suspects. As regards the death of the driver (of the crane mounted truck), we are yet to register any FIR as no complaint has been received in that regard,” said Ritesh Tripathi, assistant commissioner of police (city 1).”

For the rule is firm—someone needs to formally register the issue before it is recognized. Common sense?

The Masqueraders

For many years, there have been numerous reports of people masquerading as police officers and committing various crimes, especially around major city highways, including those near Bangalore.

Here is an excerpt from a recent report detailing a new modus operandi from a northeastern state:

The irony ? The invaders suggested that the homeowners report their concerns to the local police station!

News of these masqueraders seems to be spreading, as in July 2024, Oakland, California issued warnings to the community:

Question of the day: Were these ideas exported or imported?

The Unique Solution

You've likely heard the famous Peter Drucker saying, "What gets measured gets done."

Behavioral psychology suggests - as posited in Scientific American - that "the illusion of being observed can make you a better person—even a poster with eyes on it changes how people behave."

In Bangalore, the city has fully embraced these principles.

For the last five years, they've resorted to posting mannequins resembling traffic police to deter people from breaking traffic rules.

Some drivers, fearing being ticketed, park right next to the mannequin and religiously wait for a green signal. Others, particularly the younger crowd, take selfies for social media, while many others aren't as easily fooled::

What do the police themselves think?

The officials believe the mannequins are helping, though the lowest-ranking constables suggest that instead of aiding enforcement, they are confusing people when human officers are present.

Citizens to the Aid of the Police!

It may surprise many to learn that not all police officers have access to vehicles while performing their duties. This often results in constables requesting rides from passersby on two-wheelers or taking public buses.

This lack of mobility poses significant challenges, particularly in situations requiring quick responses, such as pursuing suspects.

Last week, a dedicated constable faced such a challenge while trying to apprehend a allegedly notorious criminal with nearly 40 criminal cases registered against him, in a town north of Bangalore—a man who had managed to evade capture for years by never using a phone and frequently changing addresses.

Acting on a tip about the alleged criminal's whereabouts, the constable traveled to Bangalore.

For a month, the constable staked out a busy neighborhood intersection in plain clothes, watching and waiting from 8 AM to 5 PM daily.

His persistence paid off when he finally spotted the alleged criminal—a heavily-built man —riding a scooter at the traffic stop.

Without hesitation and despite the obvious danger, the constable grabbed hold of the man’s leg as he tried to drive away, refusing to let go despite the suspect's desperate attempts to escape.

The scene quickly drew the attention of others.

A nearby traffic police team, consisting of a male and female constable, rushed to assist.

The suspect, in a bid to free himself, rudely shoved the female constable aside.

At the same time, a passerby on a two-wheeler blocked the criminal’s path, preventing him from speeding off.

Belatedly realizing the situation, several other citizens joined the effort.

Some lean guys slapped the suspect to prevent him from resisting arrest.

Despite the chaos, the constable continued to hold on tightly to the suspect’s leg.

At this point, a more imposing citizen, arrived on the scene on his motorcycle and disembarked.

He pushed aside the others, perhaps frustrated with other issues in his life, began kicking the suspect, who had by now fallen to the ground, shocking observers and crossing the line of acceptable behavior.

The police, momentarily taken aback by the unsolicited and excessive help, moved in to regain control.

Eventually, the suspect gave up his resistance.

Mellowed and defeated, he was even allowed to put on his slippers before being taken away.

Not till this surrender, did the gritty constable let go of the man.

The brave constable is being heralded as a hero.

The passers-by who helped but crossed the line? Not so much.

Turns out the constable had previously been part of the Indian Army Corp of Signals (established in 1911) which may explain his surprising chase.

He is now to be ‘felicitated,’ though it is less clear whether that includes a cash reward!

The local name of the criminal? ‘Stomach Manja’ because of his prominent potbelly.

Here is the tweeted video in two parts: part 1 where he is spotted, and the constable tackles him, and part 2 where the criminal tries to get away.

Even Bollywood could not have crafted a better story to befuddle the mind.

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