India's Police

03-18-2006, 12:17 AM

India might have won her freedom over 50 years ago, but we are still ruled by police following british imperial rules. Time after time, we come across instances where the police , either in concert with the politicians or on their own have simply refused to treat indian citizens with respect.

A suspect in police custody does not have any rights and third degree interrogation techniques, that put Abu Gharib abuse to shame, have been used with impunity. Worse, the indian cinema and the TV serials seems to reinforce this image. The potrayal of police in all our movies and TVs is of a cop who beats on the suspects to get out a confession or the truth. Not only does the bad cop does that, but even the do-gooder cop also do it. The only difference being, good cop tortures a gooda (against whom there is absolutely no evidence) and gets him to fess-up.

This bad behaviour of the cops can be seen in real life too. Worse, nothing happens to these bad cops. In this latest instance, the cops in navi mumbai fired at rioters and killed 3 people. Why did they not use teargas or lathicharge? Was the crowd that violent? In that case how come the only deaths have been as a result of police firing?

QUOTEKadam blames police inaction for Navi Mumbai riotsÂ Â Â

Mumbai, Mar 17: Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Asembly Ramdas Kadam today launched a scathing attack on the "initial inaction" of the police during the group clashes in Navi Mumbai, that killed three persons, two in police firing, and injured 76 yesterday.

"The way police acted yesterday to control the mobs at Ghansoli in Navi Mumbai makes me wonder if the Home Minister had given orders to the police to kill people on the spot," Kadam said during a discussion on an adjournment motion on the Navi Mumbai riots.

Kadam said he visited the spot after the group clashes between Ghansoli villagers and Mathadi workers. "I can say from what I gathered that had the local police inspector Pathan promptly acted to diffuse tension after the eve-teasing incident, the deaths of three people in police firing later could have been averted," he said.

Kadam alleged that Pathan opened fire without following due procedures like preceding it with a lathi-charge and also violated the norm which stipulate firing below the waist. "He did not fire in the air but aimed directly at the chest," Kadam said.

He demanded that Pathan be suspended immediately and a murder case be registered against him.

Kadam said he had visited "eight to nine people injured in the firing" admitted to local hospitals. "I found out that except for one person, all others had bullet injuries above the waist", he said.

Of the 76 injured, 22 were policemen, Kadam said. The stone-pelting was so intense that even a DCP (Amar Jadhav) sustained serious injuries although he was wearing a helmet, he said.

ramana · 03-18-2006, 03:32 AM

While I appreciate your anger at the news report, calling India a police state, is not true and is flaming. The depiction of police in Indian movies is a result of the control by Minorities and the Lefties who write social dramas. Both of them want to devalue state insitituions so you need to see the bias in the movies. I am not saying Indian police is not brutal but it is defiintely not correct to call India police state which has avery different meaning.

03-18-2006, 03:48 AM

If you find the topic inflammatory, change the topic to State of Indian police. I guess my pun did not work out.

03-18-2006, 08:24 AM

Changes are needed in the Indian Evidence Act. I read elsewhere that the conviction rate is very poor in this country. The police punish whom they think to be guilty by being brutal with them under the premise 'what the heck--he is going to be let off any way; so let us punish him when we can' !

There are many officers who go by the rule book. There are also brutal beings. But can we say third degree is not at all being used anywhere else?

Some police personnel do bend to the dictates of politicians.

But it is very unfair to tar all by the same brush.

03-19-2006, 02:46 AM

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/m...02932006314.asp
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Huge haul of riches from 5 police officers in corruption crackdown
Rs 60 cr and still countingQUOTEThe officers whose house were raided are Deputy Superintendent of Police
Doddaballapur, N Krishnappa, Police Inspector, City Crime Branch (Fraud and
Misappropriation), Shami-Ur-Rehman, Police Inspector, Koramangala, Mir Arif Ali,
Police Inspector, Yeshwanthpur, Shivanna and Police Inspector, VVIP security,
Narayan Swamy.
..................
Lokayukta police have have seized cash of Rs 45 lakh, documents of two houses, two sites and three acres and 20 gunta land in Devanahalli and eight acres of land in Sadehalli Cross in Devanahalli, gold and household furniture and electronic equipment in all estimated to be worth over Rs 15 crore from the house of Deputy Superintendent of Police Krishnappa

....
From the house of Shami-Ur-Rehman, documents pertaining to 45 sites in
Yeshwanthpur, Mahadevpura, RT Nagar , Chamrajapet, Byatarayanapura and Raichur, 2.5 acres of farm in Doddaballapur, were seized along with Rs 4 lakh cash, 1.4 kgs of gold and share certificates worth Rs 40 lakh
................
From the house of Inspector Mir Arif Ali, the Lokayukta police have seized Rs 2.75 lakh cash, documents pertaining to 10 sites and four houses in the City, 11 acres of land in Gowribidanur, Rs 8 lakh worth share certificates, gold and other properties worth over Rs 10 crore, the Lokayukta said. Incidentally, Ali is a recipient of three Chief Ministerâs Medal for the best police officer, Justice Venkatachala said. <!--emo& Big Grin

--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' />

From the house of Inspector Narayan Swamy, documents of a site, eight acres of land in Chikkaballapur, cash and other assets in all worth Rs 10 crore were seized

Mera Bharat Mahan!!
CM Medal award winner <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' />

06-10-2006, 09:55 PM

QUOTEEven in drug crime, police protect their own 
Pioneer.com
Neeraj Chauhan | New Delhi
While the Delhi Police has overzealously gone after Rahul Mahajan, it has shown helplessness in tracking down Siddharth Nath, son of a serving IPS officer who is alleged to be the kingpin of the coke trade in the Capital.

Its investigations into the alleged June 1 drug abuse case involving Mahajan's son Rahul, his aide Bibek Maitra and a Srinagar-based carpet seller's son Sahil Zaroo is failing to move forward as Siddharth, popularly known as Sid in party circles has not yet been nabbed.

"The person behind the whole episode of increasing trade of heroin and cocaine among the city's elite is Siddharth alias Sid, the son of a serving IPS officer of IG rank currently posted with the RAW," said a senior police officer.

The official also said that Sahil and Abdullah had called Siddharth on the night of June 01 and morning of June 02. Despite the cops getting to know of his involvement on the first day itself, and having information about him being the head honcho of the network involving Nigerian peddlers, there has been a go slow in the matter even if inadvertent.

Preliminary investigations have confirmed that Sid was supplying drugs to embassy staffers but he managed 'immunity' from enforcement officials because of his father's stature. The officer told the Pioneer that Siddharth stays in Greater Kailash, whereas his family stays in Faridabad.

If the police are to be believed he went underground on Friday last when he came to know that Bibek Maitra had died and that Rahul Mahajan was admitted in Apollo Hospital and his accomplices have been arrested. His cell phones are also reported to be switched off. But the officers are sure that he is not out of the country as they have checked with the airport authorities.

According to the officer, it's just not Sid but also his close aide Naqibullah, an Afghan national, who is also absconding. Naqibullah is reported to be the bridge between Sid, Nigerians and users of Delhi. Sid is believed to be close to Sahil, as he used to visit him in Srinagar frequently in connection with the drug trade. Aged around 30 years, Sid poses as a carpet dealer and visits drug peddlers in Srinagar and Mumbai. He too is a Kashmiri.

According to the officer, all the Nigerians who are in the cocaine trade, are asked on arrival in Delhi to contact Sid to carry out the trade in Delhi. He gives the names and contact numbers of users to the Nigerians and keeps some amount as commission. Sahil reportedly knows everything about Sid as he has been in touch with him for more than a year.

Siddharth is also well known very well to Karan, Rahul and Trishay, the three other youth who visited Rahul Mahajan and Bibek Maitra on the night of June 1. The three Greater Kailash boys came in contact with Sid recently through Sahil. The police so far have turned a blind eye towards the involvement of the GK trio in the June 1 night episode.

Sources said that the case has been mucked-up by the cops as they failed to get the trio medically investigated for use of drugs. Now the police are trying to make them approvers. 

Govt is protecting IG and his son. <img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' />

07-03-2006, 06:26 AM

QUOTEWhat ails our police system? 
Pioneer.com
Joginder Singh
The police force is hitting the headlines these days for all the wrong reasons. Consequently, the image of the law-enforcer has taken a nosedive. In fact, left to an ordinary law-abiding citizen, if he were given a choice, he would totally avoid the police or keep his contacts with it minimal. The policemen in the guise of moral guardians are wreaking havoc everywhere in the country.

The case involving the rape of a woman by a Delhi Police sub-inspector in June 2006, who also tried to extract bribe, threatening arrest otherwise, is a shocking reminder that citizens are helpless when the law-enforcers themselves turn lawbreakers. Fortunately, the delinquent officer was promptly dismissed. The abuse of position by the police is not a new phenomenon.

Yet, in another instance, in the CBSE paper leak case, the CBI arrested the investigating officer of the Crime Branch along with two others. The officials were caught red-handed extorting money from parents of the prime accused. To top it all, a number of policemen apart from the above-mentioned cases have been charged with rape and kidnapping.

A Uttar Pradesh Police constable was arrested for framing his three cousins in a case of gang rape by paying Rs 3,000 to a woman who allegedly implicated them. Six policemen along with five criminals from Mumbai and the neighbouring district of Thane were arrested for participating in criminal activities during their service. Their crimes ranged from extortion, bribery and attempt to robbery.

A Mumbai constable raped a teenage girl at the Marine Drive police post on April 21, 2005. Of course, the guilty constable was dismissed from service and sentenced to 12 years in prison. But the punishment meted out to him is still to revive people's faith in the police force.

Haryana Police had to prosecute its own DGs and a number of Inspectors General of Police on charges of crimes against women. Similarly, the Abdul Rehman Telgi fake stamp paper scam saw the degradation of Mumbai police, when its former Commissioners and an Inspector General were put behind bars. If names of other States are not mentioned, it is not because policemen there have a clean record.

The British, who had established the Indian Police, set up a commission in 1902-03 which observed: "There can be no doubt that the police force throughout the country is in a most unsatisfactory condition, that abuses are common everywhere, that this involves great injury to the people and discredit to the Government, and that radical reforms are urgently necessary." The First National Police Commission of Free India (1977-81), under late Dharam Vira, commented as under: "In public estimates, the police appear as an agency more to implement and enforce the objectives of the Government in power, as distinct from enforcing laws as such as an independent and impartial agency. The dividing line between the objectives of the Government in power as such on one side, and the interests and expectations of the ruling political party on the other side, gets blurred in actual practice."

In the last two years, 2,027 police officers were punished for various offences in Delhi alone; 741 were dismissed or removed or had their services terminated, 238 gave the penalty through reduction in pay. The services of 111 were forfeited. The remaining suffered as their increment in salary was withheld; some were demoted or censured.
Â
Indulgent handling of bad elements in the force has done the police administration in. Most officials order departmental inquiries, notoriously long-drawn-out affairs. Rarely do inquiry officers find time to swiftly conclude the task. This is because most inquiry officers are from the very police and the investigation is only an extra task for which they have no inclination or aptitude. For many it is a waste of time. Or it repels them to find a colleague guilty of malfeasance.

In departmental inquiries, sometimes officers empathise with the accused as they might have worked with or under them or might have obliged them in some way. Moreover, the police officers, with a few exceptions, are loath to see their tribe punished, whether guilty or otherwise. Another reason is that very few officers put themselves in the shoes of the victims.

The criminal activities of policemen that surface are a tip of the iceberg. Except for dealing with infractions departmentally, neither the Government nor any of the Commissions or Committees set up so far has thought of an alternative mechanism. There are some toothless committees, like the grievances boards, who again pass on the complaints to the departmental officials or at the best call for some reports. While nobody should be condemned unheard, it is time the Government thought of a parallel - also effective and time bound - mechanism to address the aggrieved.

It is true that many officials have so many skeletons to hide that they cannot afford to reprimand or punish their errant subordinates. So they have no moral high ground to admonish the misbehaving lot.

No constitutional system of Government based on democratic principles can function without an effective, efficient and accountable police. Constitutionally, the police is accountable to the elected representatives. The concept of ministerial responsibility has led to a situation in which the political masters actually guide and intervene in all functions in all areas. Most often, all intervention takes the form of only verbal directions, which are difficult to prove later in a court or commissions of inquiry. It happened to this author when the then Prime Minister wanted to bail out a Chief Minister who was clearly involved in a scam being investigated by the CBI.

Professor David H Balyey says, "In India today, a dual system of criminal justice has grown up, the one of law and the other of politics. With respect at least to the police, decisions made by the police officials about the application of law, are frequently subject to partisan review or direction by the elected representatives..."

The police are being used by the political masters, irrespective of the parties in power, to their selfish ends. It aptly explains the arrest of opposition leaders by the ruling parties. That is how the game of goes on. The final and eventual responsibility for what kind of police the country will have rests on the rulers of the country. It is time to remind them of what Winston Churchill had said, "The price of greatness is responsibility." They had better shoulder it.

08-21-2006, 09:53 AM

SHRI K.P.S.GILL ON DEALING WITH TERRORISM INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM MONITOR: PAPER NO.108

09-02-2006, 08:15 AM

<!--emo&

--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /> Lynching of criminals on rise in Bihar
[ 2 Sep, 2006 0757hrs ISTIANS ]
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PATNA: In Bihar people seem to be running out on patience and have started delivering 'instant justice' by lynching suspected criminals.

At least 25 people have been lynched in the past three weeks in the state, which even otherwise has a high crime rate.

A senior police officer admitted that over 20 criminals were lynched in August. "Police are aware of the rising incidents of lynching both in urban and rural areas," he said.

In some cases the 'criminals' were lynched even as the police looked on and their family members and relatives protested. At least in some cases, the victims clearly appeared to be innocent.

Jagender Prasad, a businessman, said: "People are fed up with growing lawlessness and rising crimes. As the police do little to curb the crimes, they (people) have started punishing the criminals."

Madan Singh, another businessman, agreed that people have no option but to lynch criminals so as to send a warning to others.

Doman Kahar and Raju Kahar were lynched by an angry mob in Patna last week as they were reportedly trying to snatch a mobile telephone and other valuables from a doctor and Rs.9,000 from a businessman. The residents caught them. But instead of handing them over to the police, they beat them to death.

Sushil Singh, another suspected criminal, was lynched in Rajokhar village in Araria district. He was caught as he was trying to break into a Rashtriya Janata Dal leader's house. His accomplice, who survived, is in critical condition.

In some cases the "criminals" seemed to be innocent.

The innocent included four Dalit youths from the Nut caste who were beaten to death in Balbatra village in Bhojpur district. They were accused of stealing a buffalo.

Following a complaint, the National Human Rights Commission has directed the Bihar government to submit a report on their killing.

Similarly, an agitated mob killed Lallu Lal and Chirkut after they were trying to sell two stolen buffalos in a village in Rohtas district.

Three more Dalits were lynched in Siwan district as they were trying to rob a house in Siktiya village.

More than a dozen such incidents have been reported from West Champaran, Saran, Munger, Shekhpura, Jehanabad and Supaul districts in the past three weeks.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar admitted in the state assembly early August that 1,618 murders and 97 kidnapping cases had been reported in just six months. Last year 1,688 murders and 117 cases of kidnapping had been reported.

09-03-2006, 03:07 PM

It is rather unfare to blame the entire police force of India. There are indeed various shortcomings including lack of training,equipment, bad working condition, political interference etc.
A few cases of atrocities do hit the media and at the same time many go unreported. However, in handling a diverse population of more than a billion people, I would say despite all the limitations and shortcomings, the police forces are effective to a great extent .That is the precise reason why there is rule of law and why there is increase in foreign investment in India.

09-03-2006, 06:58 PM

<!--emo&

--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' />
Ravish ji,
I did not find any other appropriate place for this article. At the same time, my purpose was not to denigrate Police. Rather, like Justice dept, they also put a blind eye on the whole episodes.
As a corrollary, if people themselves rise against criminals; that's what is required e.g. if people of Kashmir themselves rise against terrorists, v will c the end of terrorism the very next day and so on and so forth.
There have been far too many movies on Bihar's mafias; for the 1st time, I think, reel life has become real life.

Vande Matram

09-23-2006, 01:20 AM

QUOTESC orders police makeover 
Abraham Thomas | New Delhi
Slew of measures for model force
With the onset of a new year, the country could expect a model police force. The Supreme Court on Friday proposed a slew of measures heralding a paradigm shift in the manner police force is perceived and seen to operate in the country since Independence.

Introducing a fixed tenure of two years for higher officials in Central police and State police organisations, along with a State Security Commission to ward off any "unwanted" interference or pressure in their fair and efficient functioning.

The Bench headed by Chief Justice YK Sabharwal also directed the State Police to segregate investigation from the law and order wing, thereby facilitating speedy investigation and better expertise.

To begin with, the exercise will be initiated in urban areas. Noting the difficulty in police officers dealing with complaints against their subordinates, the Bench directed the States to constitute a Police Complaints Authority (PCA) both at the State and district levels.

Such bodies, headed by retired High Court, Supreme Court or District Judge, will take cognisance of allegations of serious misconduct or grievous crimes even against a Director General of Police (DGP) in the state.

But all this will have to wait till December 31, 2006, by when the state and union territory Governments have been asked to implement the directions. The Apex Court further directed the Government to file affidavits by January 3, 2007 reporting compliance of its orders.

The other recommendation with regard to State Security Commission (SSC) is significant for the task it bears to lay down broad policy guidelines will also check on any unwanted influence or pressure on the police force. The fixed tenure will be applicable from Inspector level upto DGP rank. But seen in the current context, the Bench's direction has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

However, talking to The Pioneer, several experts voiced concerns over the recommendation with regard to fixed tenure being used by political bosses to their advantage by either shunting a meritorious officer for two years or in its inability to redress his grievances before two years.

The order makes mandatory posting and transfer of officers subject to the SSC's approval. But aggrieved officers will also get a forum to appeal at SSC, whose decisions will be binding upon the state.

The PAC's ambit of operation is also kept broad by the court which has given the former power to examine allegations of extortion, land grab or any incident involving abuse of authority by police officers. With regard to selection and placement of chiefs of Central police organisations, a National Security Commission has been proposed headed by Union Home Minister.

The Bench noted its disgust over several Commissions in the past, beginning from the National Police Commission of 1977, whose reports were shelved by the Government. The court directed the states to seriously consider framing of a model Police Act in their respective states on the lines of their directions. Besides the 1977 report, the court also relied upon the suggestions made by National Human Rights Commission, Bureau of Police Research and Development and independent Commission constituted under eminent jurist Soli J Sorabjee.

In its anguish, the Bench noted, "We can only express hope that all State Governments would rise to the occasion and enact a new Police Act wholly insulating the police from any pressure whatsoever thereby placing in position an important measure for securing the rights of the citizens under the Constitution... which will also help in securing an efficient and better criminal justice delivery system."

The petitioner, Prakash Singh, who initiated court's intervention though a public interest litigation is himself a retired Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF). He stressed the need to hand over specialised crimes dealing with international terrorism and organised crime to be investigated by Central Bureau of Investigation. Reserving its orders on this issue, the court directed the Centre and the various other commissions to respond to this suggestion within four months.

For ideal law enforcement

Separation of crime investigation and law-and-order wing within police
Authority to address complaints of extortion, high-handedness against top police officers, headed by judges of district courts, High Courts and Supreme Court
Fixed term of two years for State and Central police officers from inspector to DGP ranks
State Security Commission to monitor external influence on police officers
Constitution of Police Establishment Board and National Security Council
Implement by December 31, 2005 till a Model Police Act in place

01-05-2007, 01:25 AM

QUOTENo to police reforms: Gujarat

Pioneer News Service | New Delhi

...as it comes under the purview of State list

Gujarat has joined a host of States which have strongly opposed the much touted police reforms proposed by the Supreme Court.

The Narendra Modi Government expressed its inability to abide by the court's directions since it impinges the Constitutional scheme providing "police" and "public order" as essentially State subjects.

The court had sought all States and Union territories to abide by a slew of proposals suggested as part of reforming the police machinery. As part of this effort, the States had to set up Security Commissions to check any unwarranted influence or pressure by any authority on the police force. Besides, a Police Establishment Board and a Police Complaints Authority were to be set up.

The investigation of crime was separated from the law and order functions and fixed minimum terms of two years was proposed for Director General of Police, Inspector General and other top officers.

The Centre which filed its response on Thursday indicated its willingness to proceed with the directions given by court seeking three months time to finalise the process.

Seeking reconsideration of court's decision of September 2006, the Gujarat Government cited several reasons for its inability to carry out the proposed measures.

"Multiplicity of disciplinary authorities would result in delays and subjectivity at various levels would result in conflicting decisions" the State said. On setting up of State Security Commission, it indicated that such measure "is likely to undermine the jurisdiction and power of a constitutionally established Government in a State and would work as a parallel body, which is not answerable or accountable to the people of the state."

Regarding fixing of minimum tenure for DGPs the government felt that meritorious officers could be deprived of timely promotions. On separation of investigation, the government felt that the police force responsible for law and order alone could be better equipped to investigate criminal activities.

02-12-2007, 03:06 AM

The riot of politicsQUOTEJoginder Singh
The communal problem in India has existed for long. Recent instances of violence in Gorakhpur, Mangalore, Bangalore and Indore bring back the country's attention on this festering problem. The ongoing unrest in Gorakhpur is neither the first nor the last of its kind. Such occurrences at some places have not only been prolonged, but have also resulted in loss of many innocent lives.

The police is often blamed for not handling the situation well. The National Police Commission (1977-81) in its report on communal riots observed: "In many cases of troubled cities, the police and the magistracy just withdrew when anti-social groups indulged in violent crimes. The deployment of Magistrates on such occasions appears to have reduced to almost a farce... There is a tendency amongst the officers to avoid taking responsibility in dealing with the situation. They either avoid going to the trouble spot, or when they happen to be present there, they try not to order, the use of force, when the situation so demands, or better still, slip away from the scene leaving the force leaderless." 

The report further added, "We have reasons to believe that this reaction of the officers was more a calculated decision on their part rather than a reflex action out of cowardice. They consider it prudent, to avoid getting involved in ordering the use of force. It is unfortunate, that after such riots, it is only those officers who had taken some action in dealing with the situation, who are accused of all sorts of misdoings and they have to face harassment and humiliation in the inquiries that follow... To deal with the situations as they arise, it is essential that officers act on their own in their best judgement, and not seek instructions from higher quarters where none are necessary."

State Governments are generally seen tackling communal riots in an ad hoc manner. Regrettably, as every vote counts in a democracy, all political parties look for such incidents to bolster their electoral prospects.

A number of commissions have analysed the genesis of communal violence and stressed the need for controlling rumours effectively, which aggravate the situation. During a riot, the least that any Government can do is institute thorough investigation and follow it up with successful prosecution. This prevents further crimes and discourages potential mischief-makers. Stringent punishment awarded to a rioter acts as a deterrent and makes the criminal-minded realise that "crime does not pay". The problem of riots cannot be isolated from general law enforcement in any State. Strict and impartial law enforcement on a day-to-day basis is the only way to control communal violence.

There is no straightjacketed solution to fit all situations in dealing with communal riots. The National Integration Council suggested that the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police be made responsible for communal disturbances.

While dealing with communal violence, the police can at best undertake fire-fighting operations, as long-term measures are vested in the political leadership. The police, however, should ensure that all laws are enforced without prejudice.

The following are the causes for failures in controlling communal riots. Often the administration fails in intelligence gathering and forging communication links in time, as well as in making a correct appraisal and evaluation on intelligence reports. Even when intelligence of likely trouble is available, there is reluctance to make preventive arrests of anti-social elements, thanks to political interference.

These days with the means of faster communication available, the police cannot take any step without the knowledge of some local politician. Politicians also try to pose as friends of victims and never forget to visit the riot-hit areas with an eye on votes. A Union Minister was recently denied entry into Gorakhpur because it was felt that his visit could affect the ruling party's minority vote-bank.

The police department has been politicised to such an extent that the hierarchical control and command of the department has almost been done away with. State politicians in power communicate directly with the officers in charge of police stations to give directions as to what and how any action should be taken and who should be arrested and who should not be touched. It is for this reason that the State Governments do not want to let go their control over the police by fixing tenures of officers, despite the orders of the Supreme Court to that effect.

Interference with the police system by extraneous elements, especially politicians, encourages the law-enforcers to believe that their respective careers do not depend on their performance, but by currying favour with politicians. No wonder decisions taken at powerful political headquarters are implemented without question at the operational level. The frequent bypassing of the normal chain of commands results in the atrophy of the supervisory structure. It, therefore, fails to operate effectively even in matters that do not attract extraneous interference.

The role of police during the 1992-93 Mumbai riots came under severe criticism from several quarters, especially the Srikrishna Commission, which implicated 32 officers for anti-minority bias. The same feelings were expressed by the People's Union of Civil Liberties about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Though the problem of communalism can only be solved through political sagacity, a lot can be done by police officials at the ground level by taking adequate preventive measures. In communally sensitive areas, peace committees should be organised before, during and after the riots. In riot-prone places, action should be taken to direct persons in possession of firearms to surrender them as a precautionary measure.

Nothing is impossible; there are ways to handle every problem. What is required is political will to deal with even the worst of situations. Bertrand Russell once observed: "We have, in fact, two kinds of morality side-by-side, one which we preach but do not practice, and another which we practice but seldom preach."

02-12-2007, 08:39 AM

We can talk all the talk. Our clueless politicans can have a thousand commissions study and recommend a million reforms. Nothing will change.

1. We need an independent police force not answerable to the garbage of India which is "our politicians".

2. Why are all CMs (from every party) so strongly opposing police reforms as mandated by Supreme Court. They want police to serve their interests not people's interests.

3. They only way we can reduce this is by electing police chiefs independently and vest the powers in them to safeguard the law as legislated by our legislators.

4. Don't let our single digit IQ politicians run the show. That will solve half the problem.
Then only any reforms will have a meaning.

02-12-2007, 10:08 AM

They should elect Police commissioner by citizen of city/town as they do in US. Make them accountable to public; half of the problem will be solved.
Currently, they have no choice, if they don't listen they get slap from politicans.
Major reform required, Indian police is as bad as any African country.

02-12-2007, 10:41 PM

QUOTE(Mudy @ Feb 12 2007, 12:38 AM)They should elect Police commissioner by citizen of city/town as they do in US.Â Make them accountable to public; half of the problem will be solved.
Currently, they have no choice, if they don't listen they get slap from politicans.
Major reform required, Indian police is as bad as any African country.
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Politicising police would be dangerous for india. now, the police officers have an obligation to be non-political and see the result. what would happen if the police is on political lines? There are better ways to make them accountable to public. I dont think electing has worked in bringing accountablity to our politicians, i dont see how it would work on policemen. The problem is actually in the selection process. Way too much nepotism and influence is affecting the selection process. We need to use RTI to publish the selection results and get accountability in the police selection. That would not help immediately, but there will be hope for the future.

03-24-2007, 02:23 PM

Last week the West Bengal Police gave another example that they have maintained their tradition, since the British days of being the best shooters. They were able to kill 15 citizens in Nandigram in West Bengal mostly women and children. These people were demonstrating since sometime against the State Government decision to take over agricultural land for creation of Special Economic Zone.
The video coverage and other evidence indicate that this was perhaps the first time in India that a police force deployed against some agitationists has been armed with Self Loading Rifles and INSAS assault rifles. The net result has been the high rate of death of the citizens.

Whatever may the political and economic outcome of this massacre, one thing is clear that in future police deployed for such jobs should either be supplied with the grand old Enfield 303 bolt action or some short guns, not the SLR and Assault Rifles.

03-27-2007, 09:06 PM

In same period (i.e., last week or so), 55 security personnel (most were police) were killed in Chattisgarh by those earlier termed by some experts as 'misguided youths', 'champion of downtrodden or oppressed' or 'modern day Robinhoods'. Yes, I'm refering to those Maoists who killed those 55 cops. And not a peep from our champions who carry Gandhi on their sleeve on this massacare of 55 cops. Compare with Mahatma Gandhi who had actually called off the very independence struggle when some constables were killed by an unruly mob.

What kind of guns were these cops in Chattisgarh using? Are we shocked that the police in an armed conflict with Maoists are outgunned while those firing upon unarmed crowd in Nandigram ARE using state of the art technology?

It's clear that police themselves are being used as weapon here and the choice of gun could have made little difference.

ramana · (This post was last modified: 03-28-2007, 02:08 AM by ramana.)

Ravish, There are reports in Pioneer that CBI investigation uncovered the facts that some armed thugs were providing the fire under police cover and used 0.315 calibre rifles. The idea was to intimidate the villagers into giving up their lands. The local MP and some MLAs were involved.

Eg. Outlook article "Buddha meets his Kalki"

QUOTE....
And that's not all. The impending CBI report on Nandigram will, say all available indicators, be severely critical of the police and may expose the role played by CPI(M) cadre in the March 14 troubles which left 14 dead and over 70 injured. A CBI source told Outlook the evidence points to the "CPI(M) deploying its musclemen to kill, injure, maim and rape the people of Nandigram". And apparently, they were supported in their efforts by the state police.

Last week, the CBI (which was handed the case by the Calcutta HC) raided a brick kiln near a spot where the CPI(M) had set up camp in late January. The raid led to the arrest of 10 men who confessed to being activists of the CPI(M) and affiliates like the DYFI. They were found to be in possession of countrymade as well as sophisticated arms, police uniforms and the cellphone numbers of top CPI(M) leaders like health minister Surya Kanta Mishra (who oversees party affairs in East Midnapore district where Nandigram is located) and CPI(M) local MP Lakshman Seth.

An intensive search in Nandigram has yielded live and spent bullets of prohibited bores like .315 and .38âwhich are not issued to the police. The 10 arrested from the kiln have confessed they were sent by CPI(M) leaders to help launch an assault on activists of the Bhumi Uched Pratirodh Committee (committee to fight land ouster), who are spearheading the protests in Nandigram.

The CBI is also coming round to the conclusion that the police firing was not justifiedâthat it was a lapse on the part of senior officers who failed to control their men. Also, almost all the victims sustained bullet wounds above the waist, thus proving that the police fired to kill. All this, if impartially compiled and presented in the CBI's final report, may prove to be calamitous for Buddhadeb and his government. Especially damaging will be the mobile phone records of the 10 party musclemen that show they were in regular touch with key party functionaries....

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