Police - Public Relationship

Lalvarlawn *

Manipur Police officers who are on duty for security arrangement at Manipur Sangai Festival, 2013 at Hapta Kangjeibung :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

The official body employed by the State to prevent and solve crime, as well as for maintaining public order is known as the police. They make sure that the rules are obeyed and followed. On the other hand, public are refers to the people as a whole. It can also mean the affairs of the community.

Police-Public relationships means the way in which the police or the official body behaves with the people as a whole. It can also cover the involvement of the official body in the affair of the community. In our country, the Police Department plays a crucial role in bringing peace and order in the society.

For instance, organizing of Police-Public meeting, blood donation camp, de-addiction camp and other like activities bring unfathomable benefits to the public. Here, mentioned may be made of organizing of co-curricular activities and distribution of different sports items which directly bring great development among the youths in their physical, mental and emotional growth.

Rescuing children from the hand of unscrupulous flesh traders, raiding of different places where unlawful activities strive, etc, are some of the good works performed by the police for the welfare of the society and its people.

But in our Manipur context, even if establishment of Police Department is to prevent and solve crimes, the image of a police man or woman in uniform evokes harrowing memories in the mind of the people. There have been numerous tragic incidents like the misuse of power and position by the police officials.

In our times, we have heard about the callous attitude, torture, crime committed by the police towards the public, which has led to trust deficit of the people towards the police. The police also bullied and forced people, thus, leading to severe reactions and even to the extent of loss of life of many an innocent people.

Such incidents are not relevant in our democratic country. On the other hand, high rise of corrupt practices among the police, illegal collection of taxes are also becoming very common today. News of fake encounters, giving wrong information, etc, are also being witnessed.

On many occasions, the police are not ready to expose crimes, citing to security reasons. Public are afraid to report a crime, owning to fear of harassment by the police.

Involvement of police in drug smuggling is also not a secret anyone. Due to all these reasons, there is deteriorating in the relationship between the police and the public, who have lost their faith on the police.

In order to restore the relationship between the police and the public, there must be a qualitative transformation and awareness between the two groups on issues related to their rights and duties. The Police Department must also be proactive and perform its duties and responsibility with discipline.

The high ranking officers of police department must see to it that his subordinates performed their duties well. The department of police should also be enhanced to conduct proper investigation for initiating fair trial of the accused in the law court. Organizing frequent Police-Public meeting or interaction will also prove to be a blessing in improving the relationship between the two entities.

A fair trial is everybody's right, as far as human rights are concerned. So, it is high time that the people and the police joined hands and combat the 'devils' among our midst as so to make our society a true paradise.