Bad example commanders
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 04, 2022 -

CHIEF minister N Biren's consistent assertion that the government will not tolerate corruption seems to be striking the right chord with at-least some among the salaried class if the recent cases of an IRB commandant placed under suspension and initiation of punitive action against another commanding officer of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are taken into account.

Without an iota of doubt, the present government deserves appreciation for the return of peace and social stability in the state, which for the past many decades used to be a forbidden land for outsiders due to everyday bloodshed and street protests over varied issues.

Similarly, increasing instances of arrest of drug peddlers could be attributed to the law enforcement agencies keeping faith in the chief minister's resolve to take the 'war on drugs' campaign to its logical conclusion.

As such, suspension of the two commandants as well as some personnel of the SDRF in corruption case implies that the government's endeavour to check misuse of power in public institutions is generating positive response as prevention of graft cases cannot be possible without the concerned employees exposing irregularities.

Complete eradication of the malaise of corruption from the system might not be possible but the action taken against the two commandants, along with suspension of a handful of employees of different departments for subletting government quarters and police personnel found involved in drug peddling case testifies that the guilty ones will have to pay a price for living under the impression that the establishment would continue to shield corrupt and rogue elements.

Suspension of the IRB commandant followed by the same action befalling on the SDRF commandant, inspector, havildar and rifleman underscores that based on merit of the case and evidence in hand the present government wouldn't spare the wrong doers.

While those already netted in corruption cases and misuse of government facilities will face the music as per the law of the land, the case of two commandants might be just the proverbial tip of the iceberg for its an open secret that personnel of state's security forces who are skilled/semi-skilled in masonry and carpentry works were/are engaged in construction of houses of the top officers and other household jobs.

These officers, indeed, have done great damage to the reputation of a disciplined force like the police and thus should be made to repent for misusing their power.

The only reason such unauthorised practices go unreported is that the personnel see construction works safe and pressure-free in comparison with the normal police job, which is filled with risk.

With improvement in the law and order situation, these security personnel are certain to be convinced that there is no risk factor in discharging duty in uniform.

However, no subordinate staffer would dare to report or expose misdemeanour of their higher rank officers in case the government doesn't demonstrate that the guilty ones wouldn't be spared.

Needless to say, if the zero-corruption policy is put into practice a time will definitely come when bribe givers would be in dilemma on who to approach, which in turn will help prevent corruption.