More visible face of the Govt : Studying the men in khaki
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: May 09 2015 -
One of the more visible faces of the Government.
The men in khakis or the Police Department.
This is all that more so in a troubled place like Manipur.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi may have had the right intention in mind when he called for a smarter police force.
However it is important to understand what exactly constitutes a smarter police force.
Does being smart only mean the ability to crack cases, arrest suspects and in some cases pre-empt violence ?
Or does it go more than this ?
It is not without reason why countries across the world have been making efforts to portray their police in a more humane light, a force which is there for the people.
How far has Manipur police been able to live up to this dictum ?
A valid question given the fact that the State police do not exactly enjoy a good reputation.
Things may not have been like this earlier but after the guns started booming across the hills and valley of Manipur, the police too had to intensify its activities and in the process start flexing its muscles.
Political patronage went along with the process to nullify or battle the activities of the underground outfits.
With the help of the Indian army and other para-military forces, the fighting power of the underground outfits has been checked to a certain degree but what is worrying is the rise in anti-social activities or the inability of the State police to fight and neutralise other crimes like theft, thuggery, dacoity and even plain goondaism.
Moreover it is not without reason why the Police Department is more often than not equated with corruption.
Why is there the widespread perception that the only language that most policemen understand is money and nothing else ?
Too bad that this disturbing issue was not dwelt at length during the 2-day long regional (east India) workshop on ‘smart policing’ at Guwahati.
Prime Minister Narendra may have done the right thing in changing the venue of the workshop from New Delhi to other places, but the more important point is whether any serious thoughts have been given to change the mindset of the policemen, the men who are on the beat.
Policing is more than silencing the guns of the underground outfits or reining in hard core criminals. It is also about keeping the crime rate in check.
And to go anywhere near this, it is important that the cops too are able to portray an image above corrupt practices.
The celluloid world may be more about fantasy and tales that border on fairy tales, but it also stands that to a large extent they do reflect the reality in the country.
This is where the need to study the manner in which policemen are portrayed on the screen arises.
No one expects some miraculous changes to come from the 2 day conference, but it is nonetheless important to acknowledge the point that the 2 day conference should not go in vain.
Making the police force more competent is definitely important but it also stands that making them accountable too is important.
Promote merit and do not tolerate corrupt practices.
This should be the principle and this should start from the police set up.
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