People in India fear the police as much as
the criminals. Today many police officers are facing charges like
brutality, torture and helping criminals or politicians – frame or
eliminate opponents– to get promoted. This may lead to total breakdown
of values and erosion of confidence in the criminal justice system.
“The police force is far from efficient; it is defective in training and organization; it is inadequately supervised; it is
generally regarded as corrupt and oppressive; and it has utterly failed
to secure the confidence and cordial co-operation of the people– Indian
Police Commission (July, 1902) under the chairmanship of Sir A.H.L.
Fraser concluded.
By Samant Sekhri
“yeh andar ki bat hai, Police hamarey
saath hai . (Inside news: behind the scene support of police is with us)
a graffiti left behind on the charred walls of a madrassa in
Sundaramnagar, Gujrat read. In another incident, a policeman extracted
diesel from his vehicle and offered it to the mob to set fire to a slum.
In Orissa Police remained mere spectators as mobs looted and burnt
Christian’s properties in curfew bound areas.
What is the role of the police in a
democracy? Is it to protect the people or torment them? Can there be a
society without any police? – A plethora of questions come to mind. But
before we answer these questions let’s look at the image and perception
about the police today.
The policemen in general are personnel
empowered to enforce the law, protect property and reduce civil disorder
– even to the extent of using legitimate force to do so. The term
Police denotes purposeful maintenance of public order and protection of
persons and property against commission of unlawful acts. In short one
of the foremost purpose and role of the police is to instill a feeling
of confidence – a sense of security in the people that they are safe and
can sleep in peace because there is someone to protect them.
In spite of all this citizens in India can trust the police and fear the police as much as the criminals.
Despite catchy slogans and jargons like
“With you, for you, Always”– most people refuse to accept it as a
“protector of the people”. Their perception is of it is that of an
intimidating instrument of the government in power.
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