Strained Resources: Bengaluru's 112 Helpline Battles Surge in Fraudulent Emergency Alerts

Systemic Misuse Hinders Police Response

The Bengaluru Police emergency response infrastructure is currently under significant strain due to a torrent of non-genuine communications. Recent operational data highlights a staggering disparity between legitimate emergencies and fraudulent alerts. During 2025, the 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) managed 501,813 genuine Calls for Service (CFS). However, this figure was overshadowed by 1,588,868 blank calls and 7,848 crank calls. This pattern persists into the first half of 2026, which has already seen 1,91,708 legitimate calls against 562,911 blank and 3,532 crank calls.

Deployment Based on Fabricated Reports

A recent case involving a caller identified as Umesh illustrates the real-world impact of these false reports. The individual alerted the Hoysala Control Room to a supposed assault involving four people within the Bandepalya police station jurisdiction. In response, ASI Venkatesh M., accompanied by local and patrol personnel, mobilized to the site only to find the report entirely fabricated. Consequently, Bandepalya Police filed a Non-Cognizable Report (NCR) and initiated legal proceedings against the informant for providing false information.

Human Cost and Operational Hazards

Control room staff, particularly women, face the brunt of this harassment. Statistics indicate that many nuisance callers deliberately target female operators with obscene language and personal questions, often remaining silent if a male operator answers. These operators are bound by a protocol that prevents immediate disconnection, as a silent caller could be in genuine distress. Staff members report that many abusive callers appear intoxicated. Standard procedure involves attempting to engage the caller before either disconnecting or transferring the call to male colleagues or a de-addiction helpline.

Technical Triggers and Policy Deterrents

• Blank Calls: Frequently triggered by accidental smartphone emergency features, these calls remain a high-volume nuisance.
• Crank Calls: These involve intentional harassment, verbal abuse, and nuisance behavior.
• Resource Blocking: Authorities temporarily block repeat nuisance numbers for 24 hours to mitigate system saturation without permanently cutting off access to emergency aid.
• Legal Consequences: While habitual offenders face prosecution under various legal provisions, police officials admit the menace remains a persistent professional hazard.

Every fraudulent alert requires immediate personnel deployment. Police experts warn that this diversion of the Hoysala patrol teams and control room focus significantly risks delaying assistance to citizens facing life-threatening situations.

Source: The Hindu — Cities