POLICING FOR THE NEW AGE - Ensemble of articles on police and policing in India

8/7/2019 POLICING FOR THE NEW AGE - Ensemble of articles on police and policing in India

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POLICING FORPOLICING FORPOLICING FORPOLICING FOR

THE NEW AGETHE NEW AGETHE NEW AGETHE NEW AGE

PRAVEEN KUMAR


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PUBLISHED BY

GANGARAMS PUBLICATIONS,

MAHATMA GANDHI ROAD,BANGALORE 560 001.

PRINTED AT

FOREWORD PRINTERS,BANGALORE 560 004.

COVER DESIGN AND ARTWORK BY

JOHN ABRAHAM

ILLUSTRATED BY

MANUELNATH

COPYRIGHT PRAVEEN KUMAR JANUARY 1992.

NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCEDIN ANY FORM BY AN ELECTRONIC OR

MECHANICAL MEANS, INCLUDINGINFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVALDEVICES OR SYSTEMS WITHOUTWRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR,

EXCEPT IN CASE OF REVIEWS.


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To My Father

SHREE R.D.SUVARNA


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Published Works of Praveen Kumar

Policing for the New AgePolicing the Police

Indian PoliceInside India

Policing the Police 2 Edn

Unknown HorizonsPortraits of Passion

Love & Pride

Simply YoursShobha Priya

Golden Wonder

Celestial Glow

Divya Belaku

Bhavana

Priya Chaitra TapasviniAnanya Priya Lavanya

Priya GeethegaluTapasvini


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S.Mohan Bangalore

Chief Justice October 1,1991

FOREWORD

"Man is just a minute constituent of the monolith of police".

In a broad sense the term Police' connotes the maintenance of lawand order and protection of the rights of the citizens. Specifically, it appliesto the officers who are charged with the duty of maintaining public orderand enforcing law, including prevention and detection of crime. There canbe no civilized society without an efficient police organisation. For ademocracy to survive, the existence of a police organisation committed tolegal and social values is essential. The role to be played by the police in adeveloping democratic country undergoing rapid social changes is indeedvery great. In a democratic society the police should be so organised as to

be a reliable instrument for the maintenance of order and suppression andprevention of crime, while at the same time assuring that they exhibitrestraint and sensibility to citizens' rights.

In recent times the topic regarding politicalisation of the policeorganization has become the subject matter of discussion. Though in ademocracy the police might find it difficult to completely dissociatethemselves from politics and political influence, it is very necessary foreffective discharge of their duties that they should avoid politicalinvolvements. It is high time that the persons wielding political power

realise the great harm that would be done to the society by using the policefor political ends.

Of late, the police are required to deal with new types of crimes andsituations. The techniques to be adopted by the police are also undergoingvarious changes. The priorities in the field of crime and investigation havealso changed. There is need for a study of the various changes that havetaken place in the policing field.

Mr. Praveen Kumar in this treatise has exhaustively dealt withvarious aspects of policing with reference to the new challenges, new typesof offences and new techniques of investigation. His approach to thevarious topics is refreshingly sound. How beautifully he has underlined thesuppression of crime, remembering he who overlooks a crime, encouragesthe commission of another. He has dealt with each subject in a thoroughand thoughtful manner. I am sure this book would be helpful not only to


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those in the police organisation, but also to those who wish to have aninsight about the working of the police organisation, the challenges facedby the police and the new trends in the field of policing.

A police officer with a tough heart, to be a poet, is a matter ofapprobation. As a poet he manifests humanism. That the same spirit is tobe exhibited in reforming the criminals is his theme here.

I wish Mr. Praveen Kumar all the best in his literary ventures. May hesucceed endlessly.

(S. MOHAN)

CHIEF JUSTICE

HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA


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INTRODUCTION

This is a fascicle of nine essays, written between.the years 1987 and1991 and deal with various aspects of Policing and Police Organisation. Theessay on "Social Justice And Law Enforcement" was written in lateDecember 1990 for presentation at a seminar at the National PoliceAcademy in Hyderabad. In "Dowry Death Cases And Their Investigation"which was written as a general guide for police officers, the three primaryaspects of investigation namely law, investigation procedure and forensicinterpretation of evidences are separately dealt with. Written in 1990, the

essay was intended as subject reading for the Corps of Detectives ofKarnataka. And "The World In The 21st Century" is actually two essaysclubbed for this publication, both written in 1990, as entries to aninternational competition sponsored by Keihanna Interaction Plaza Inc.Kyoto, Japan and supported by National Land Agency of Japan, the Kyoto,Osaka and Nara Profectural Governments. The ambit of the essay extendsbeyond policing and its organisation in an attempt to envision conditions inthe 21st century as they might logically be assumed to develop from latter-day circumstance. On the other hand, "Organisational And AdministrativeChallenges Before The Police For The New Age" is more specific in scopeand derives in part from my own experiences. This and "Humanising ThePolice - The Role Of Its Leaders" arc of earlier vintage, having been writtenin the latter half of 1987 as entries in riational-level essay competitions heldfor police officers. "Humanising The Police - The Role Of Its Leaders" iswritten in the context of a democratic setup such as ours, where theinteneration of policing methods without sacrificing discipline and efficiencyis something that is of universal relevance. "Police Dogs For The New Agein Kamataka" is an essay adapted from a study report prepared in 1989 forexpansion and modernization of the Dog Squad in the Kamataka Police

Department. The essays "Crime, Politics And The Police", "Internal Security- Challenges And Approach" and "Indian Police At The Crossroads" werewritten as recently as August 91. "Crime, Politics And The Police" is an in-depth scientific analysis of the present Indian Police and its organisation inrelation to the topical subjects of criminalisation of politics and thepoliticisation of the police. "Internal Security - Challenges and Approach"identifies the maladies of internal security operations in India andendeavours to find remedies while the essay, 'Indian Police At TheCrossroads' is an overall examination of the police subculture in India in thepost-independent era. The essay is based on empirical evidence encountered

during the last thirteen years of my service in the police and its rationalanalysis. The scope of the essays are limited to analysis of the causes of themaladies and the suggestion of remedies to prepare "Policing For The NewAge." Awareness of the malady itself is half the remedy. Ergo, if these essayssucceed in awakening police leadership from its frosted complacence byshocking its sensibilities with the truth, the raison d' etreof the essays will be


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more than fulfilled. The esperance is that these scientific works would befound useful and appreciated by police professionals as well as by the public.

Though each essay addresses various issues confronting the police,

the treatment of these problems can be neither said to be exhaustive norconclusive: they are only meant to provoke thinking. There are many otherproblems with special reference to the Kamataka Police that require urgentsolution.

If policing is to be effective in the years ahead, specialization iscrucial. I suggest three distinct police services with separate recruitment andtraining: a)Regulatory Police or Uniformed Police in charge of law and orderand other regulatory duties; (b) Mainstay police in charge of crimeinvestigation, crime prevention, security and intelligence operation; (c) Social

police in charge of prevention and investigation of all social offences andimplementation of social legislation. All three wings should have their ownindividual organisations upto district level with independent Superintendentsand staff as required: functioning in tandem in much the same way as thearmy, navy and airforce. At the apex could be a specially constituted bodycalled the State Police Authority with Police Chiefs of all three wings asmembers and the Chief Secretary of the Government as its Chairman.

At present, the growth of the Police Department is not really muchmore than a spasmodic reaction to various stimuli and lacks the benefit of

an integrated approach. As a result, a structural chorisis is evident whichplaces operational facilities, counterbalances and counterchecks in jeopardy.The constitution of a permanent cell of organisation experts under the directcontrol of the police chief to redefine Kamataka's Police Organisation isrequired to make it more meaningful and need-based. This could help instreamlining the hierarchy by identifying and eliminating redundant posts,rationalizing workloads and preventing their duplication, redefining dutiesand procedures and thus the rights and responsibilities at each level. Inconsequence, police functioning would be made more cost-effective and

efficient.

The annual assessment of men and officers in the police has becomeatravesty of what it was originally meant to be. In no way, under the presentcircumstances, does an ACR reflect an officers qualities or capabilities orlack thereof. Any reliance on this clavisto mischief is sure to demoralise theforce. It is my strong conviction that the department would be far better offwithout this pernicious evaluation process that encourages corruption andfavouritism in the force. Though, it must be said that the evils of the ACRare not inherent in the process itself, but stem rather from the calibre of

those who write them at various levels. What characterises the rite of theACR today is a distinct lack of objectivity: it has become a means topersonal ends, a medium for the advancement of individual interests andeven settlement of personal scores. Servility is its inevitable consequenceand it would not be immoderate to say that, eliminating the ACR altogetherwould be certainly a step towards commune bonumin the police force.


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The other suggestion I have in mind to make in regard to the

Karnataka Police is that the Karnataka State Police Officers who don't optto join the IPS must have the opportunity for promotion provided by

reservation of a suitable percentage at the next level. New rules would ofcourse have to be prescribed for such promotion. Similarly, a minimumpercentage of the total number of district and other coveted posts must bereserved for these officers. As the KSPS and IPS are two distinct servicesand nowhere is it stated that the latter superates the former, equalopportunities should be given to officers of both services. There would beno harm in allowing KSPS officers to grow in the service of their inductionif proper avenues for advancement are vouchsafed. They would also feelmore of a sense, of belonging in their own service rather than in an alienservice, where a degree of alienation is perhaps inevitable.

It is common experience that police officers on deputation land injobs far lower in rank than in their home departments. The tendency to onlygradually upgrade posts to facilitate promotion further complicates matters.Many posts generally held by Deputy Commissioners in administrativeservice were held by DIGs and then by IGs in the police department, with aconsequent lowering of the prestige and dignity of the ranks. Similarly, thereare very high-ranking posts in the Kamataka Police with minor job contents,ipso facto affecting the dignity of the ranks'. These matters require criticalreview by organization experts to have a more balanced police setup in

Kamataka.

The blame that no talent breeds and grows in the heath of the policesetup cannot be easily gainsaid. The Indian Police Service continues to be anintellectually poor, unattractive, subsecive service in the spectrum of AllIndia Services with only misfits opting for the service. The constabularywhich forms the bulk of the service is largely constituted of people from thelower strata of society who are psychologically handicapped to exercise theirpolice powers against the more enlightened people in society. The tendency

to foul-up superior intellect and excellence is another contributing factor forthe atrophy of the police setup. The general reluctance to adopt moderntechniques of policing and management, the dogmatic approach to man-to-man and public relations and the lack of psychological insight to humannature are other factors responsible for the unfortunate state of affairs in theforce. These problems can be overcome only by capable police leadership atall levels. The organisation is bound to experience a glissade until the trendof donkey-judging-and-riding-horse is put to an end in the police setup anda semblance of objectivity, reasonableness and good judgement touch thecore of police administration. This and related issues with possible remedies

are discussed in this volume.

I remember with profound regard and love, Shobha, who providedme strength and inspiration always. I have dedicated this work to my father,Shri R.D. Suvarna. It is he and my mother Smt. B. Sarojini who made mewhatever I am. Without their encouragement, perhaps I would have never


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ventured into literary pursuits. The ideas about the police in this volumesurfaced in the process of my exchanges with my wife, Smt. Jayashree. I amgrateful to her for this and her succinct support in spawning this work. Mydeep gratitude is due to my brothers, Shri Nishith Kumar and Shri Sushir

Kumar and sisters, Smt. Asha N.R. and Smt. Pramodini Ganesh, withoutwhose help and encouragement, this volume would not have been a realityat all.

I thank the Hon'ble Mr. Justice S. Mohan, Chief Justice, High Courtof Kamataka, Bangalore (currently, a judge in the Supreme Court of India)for writing a beautiful foreword to this book. His wise and good wordsbrought honour to this work and blessings, strength to me.

Bangalore - PRAVEEN KUMAR22.2.1992


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1

CRIME, POLITICS AND THE POLICE

Crime, politics and the police are the three meiths of the vicious

triangle within which the future of democratic India and its free people is

inexorably involuted. Though wealthy industrial and commercial housesform the fourth dimension of the unfortunate predicament, their techniques

are as yet limited to manipulative strategies to gain an increscent hold over

political power by remote control in pursuit of their professional interestsand seld they jump on the indignity of involving themselves with the

vicious triangle of crime, politics and the police. It is that their wealth

flows to the spendthrift chests of the troika and operates as catalyst inreducing the normal life of free citizens to a welter of uncertainties and

unending hardships. However, their anfractuosity in the process of atrophy

is rather distant and indirect unlike the trio of crime, politics and the policePoliticians protectcriminals from the grip of the law while criminalsreciprocate by acting as their henchmen in handling underground activities.

The police goes officiously to politicians en revanche for job protection

and strikes an understanding with criminals to ease personal financial

interests. Thus works this nexus of vile power-brokers, preying on innocent

people, bloating itself on the blood of the hapless masses.

Power and wealth

In a blinkered system like ours, where power and wealth are theultimate virtues, where power and wealth in themselves stimulate mutual

growth to the exclusion of all other dimensions of life, it is no wonder, thepeople of this poor country succumb to the trappings of power and wealth

at the cost of all virtues, values, pride, dignity and human decency. In an

increasingly competitive and complex world where every day more mouths

are added to share limited resources, where the principle of the survival of

the fittest operates to its immane logical end and where the basic needs ofsurvival and decency can be assured only with power and wealth, people

naturally go all out to ramp the ladder of power and wealth by whatevermeans and cost. In the process, justice and morality become casualties and

criminality raises its ugly head as an instrument to achieve otherwiseimpossible objects. This is how politics and crime knit together in the

fabric of Indian public life.

Police and politics

The story of the police is somewhat different. As the catchpole of the

nation's administration, the police enjoy tremendous power over vast fields

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of human activities with responsibilities to life and death of the hoi polloi

as well as dignitaries. In this sense, the police is the cutting edge of the

state power and its ultimate bearer. No power can be its own sans the

police on its side as an executioner and loyal watch-dog. This is why,politicians felt the need for wooing police to their side in their activities.The police of independent India have become an easy prey to the power

baits of smarter politicians by the reason of their failing strength of

character and talent. Their greed, unsound social background, lack ofcommitment to good values and failure to comprehend police virtues in the

right perspective make them willing partners in whatever politicians do or

intend to do. They refuse to look beyond their political masters with theirdispensations of job favours; and so law, justice, righteousness,

professional ethics, morality, decency, human dignity, common good of

people, national interests and even conscience, otherwise common to anyhuman being, have become invalid nonsense to them. The police, sans

sound character and personal integrity is no more than a country dog whichis what the Indian police has become in free India. The politicians,

inebriated with new power, smartly brought these weaklings to absolute

submission and hold them on a tight leash to be their personal watch dogsand personal gendarmes in requital for favourable job placements, undue

promotions and other largition from time to time. Nothing is valued higher

than this largess and its dispensers by the new police of India. It is how thepolice was involuted in the conspiracy against decent public life in India.

Police and crime

It was a hop and skip for the police from the plangent world of

politics to the mysterious world of crime and the underworld. The policebecame a weapon of politicians to bring about the subjugation of the crime

world to prise their resource for the political ends. They thus made gooduse of the decreasing strength of character of the police in forging a nexus

between the police and criminals in furtherance of their own telos.With a

weak spine to hold itself and hapless in the face of odds, the police is onlytoo pleased to follow the footsteps of its political masters as the cardinal

principle of policing. In changed circumstances, discipline and

subordination which form the basic connecting link of the police hierarchy,

lost all their shades of meaning and are interpreted as dunny and blindsubservience to those who have power, seeking personal interests. And

politicians easily led the police to the despicable cul de sac of the nexuswith criminals, the very people whom both are supposed to control and

bring to book for antisocial acil-'ities. With politicians as the custodians ofpower en wrier to the hilt to support, the police plunged lock, stock and

barrel into the lucrative crime world; the consectaneous wealth and

comforts were in no way less sweet than the hard-earned money of law


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abiding society. This is how the nexus between the police and crime world

was established.

Dangerous nexus

The trio of manipulators is a dangerous force to reckon with, in the

Indian democratic situation. Cohered as a tight-knit power-block, they

have permeated into all conceivable facets of Indian public life with thesole intention of garnering all the benefits and pilferages of the inefficient

public administration, for sharing among themselves in line with the

proverb that one who dines well in a whore's house is wise. The tragedyhere is that the vice is perpetrated by those whom the public trust as their

benefactors and protectors. The amoral side of this operation does not seem

to have affected either the police or politicians in any way and the vilecabal against the Indian public goes on unabated. It seems that all actors in

this tragic drama think that Indian democracy is a free-for-all field to grabto the maximum in a world where all look for themselves and only those

who grab the most survive. This approach is certain to undermine not only

the democratic setup of the nation, but also its very social fabric. Theblame for this sad end should squarely be borne by the ugly troika of

politicians, criminals and the police.

Dilemma of Indian politics

Not that politics is all bad. It is, by definition, governance of statethrough popular leadership. The malaise of the present Indian politics liesin its tilt to popularity at the elimination of 'leadership' and more

dangerously, 'popularity' being made a serious business proposition to beattended to by spending hard cash as an investment to earn returns in

multiple proportions. How popularity can be won by investment remains amystery of the democracy. However, sine dubio,popularity is won on the

field pro rata to an investment in Indian situation. It is resjudicata that

nothing means as much to the Indian electorate as the money and power toprod them to cast their votes for a particular candidate. The history of

independent India makes it patent that honesty, patriotism, quality, service,

excellence and even charisma have become casualties vis a vis money and

power on the Indian election stage. In this situation, a vicious equation isformed wherein political power is equated with electoral popularity, which

in turn is equated with money and power, which can be had only throughpolitical patronage. The vicious circle has helped to create a block of

manipulative extortionists as divided from the passive common public.Politics too has its honest and patriotic people who are committed to the

commune bonum. But, sadly, they are caught in the grind of a system

which does not let them surface to prominence unless they come to termswith it and adopt the venal proposition of winning elections to make


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money to win the next election. Only those who correctly grasp the inner

dynamics of this and adapt to its mechanics can hope to make a headway.

Others are bound to sink. When the system itself made the election a venal

mechanism, corrupt practices that rope in criminals and police cannotremain far away from the scene.

Criminalisation of politics

Whom should we blame for this hapless position? Certainly not the

politicians or their auxiliaries like criminals and police who are unfortunate

by-products of the grind. They are created by the situation, arising from asystem which is misfit to the people to whom it was devised. The blame

lies either on the Indian people who are impair to the democratic system

evolved for them, because of their unenlightened and venal consciencewhich is so dim-witted that virtues like honesty, service, patriotism, quality

and excellence can make no dent on it at all; or it lies with the politicalsystem devised for them which failed to take their psychological makeup

into account and ipso factoled to the problem of maladjustment in national

life. Otherwise, how can we explain criminals and goondas winningelections with impunity even while rioting and murders were committed at

their behest on the eve of elections itself. The fact is that the chance of

winning an election often is pro rata to the aura of a tough image builtaround the candidate. It is these people who win elections and rule thiscountry! It is these people whom the Indian electorate prefers to invest

with powers to safeguard their interests! Obviously, the Indian electoratelacks the foresightedness and vision to understand the consequences of itsirresponsible decision. It is yet too immature to take decisions about the

interests of the nation and see how national interests are closely linked toits personal interests. It is yet to broaden its perspective to include the life

of the nation as an integral part of its own. Long term and rationaldecisions are alien to its nature. Immediate selfish interests and a parochial

outlook continue to be the driving force of all its actions and decisions,

whether it be on the matters of national importance or personal concern. Inmost parts of India, it is money, arrack, sari, threat, fear of landlords or the

blazening propaganda of a candidate that influence it to decide as to whom

to vote for. How can the avenirof this country be safe in the hands of such

an electorate and its elected leaders? How can an indifferent andirresponsible electorate provide honest and efficient leadership to the

nation? This weakness of the electorate has ultimately left Indian politicsin the heath of violence and manipulative extortions, with the instruments

meant to protect them mowing the field. Saner elements in politics, whofound survival difficile, have left the field, giving way to the elements

which are more suited to what is required in the field.


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It is how politics has become a pit of junk from a class of dedicated

and virtuous leaders. The credibility which is the pith of any political life is

the biggest casualty in Indian politics. People are more and more

disillusioned with the extant political institutions and the percentage of theelectorate that takes the trouble of going to polling booths to cast votes issteadily decreasing from election to election. It is an open secret that an

election is an opening for a candidate to invest money to reap wealth,

comfort and power for the next five years. And how he reaps the wealth,comfort and power again is not a mystery at all. It is corruption and misuse

of public money. If he is ambitious and intends to promote his career

interests, there is no way out in the existing system but to resort to pullingstrings and pursuing other more deadly methods, often with the active

collusion of the officious criminals and police.

Political murders

Political murders are common features these days in India. When a

political adversary grows to be an irritant, too serious for corn fort, he is

seen to be eliminated. No career politician wants to stain his name with amurder case and get his name registered as a criminal in a police station.

He does the work through his faithful underworld henchmen whom he

keeps in good humour always for being available for such a need, byproviding them political support and protection. For this, he keeps thepolice at his side. This is easily done by intervening in police postings and

helping to get early promotions for favoured ones.

Booth capturing

A candidate for an election may even resort to booth capturing through

his criminal aides to facilitate his victory. This operation requires thoroughplanning and training of the men involved, apart from the willing

cooperation of the police. An attempt at booth capturing can succeed only

with the intrenchant nexus between politicians, criminals and police forsynergy.

Political patronage

The unhealthy nexus often leads to and facilitates other forms of crime.

Cases of rioting, assault, kidnap, rape and blackmail, involving thesupporters or relatives of politicians, criminals and police in furtherance of

a political cabal are other usual forms of crime that result from the viciousnexus. Often, criminals and police are employed to create disturbances or

inspire sensational crimes in furtherance of political goals. The losses of

life and property involved in the wily schemes seld touch the conscience ofeither the politicians, the criminals or the police who are responsible for


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these dastardly acts. The political patronage and the nexus with police

desensitize criminals to the process of law and justice; they are thus

emboldened to commit more daring and ruthless crimes that endanger the

life and property of the plebeians. The police, in its links with politicianson one hand and with criminals on the other, is in its new avatar as theprotector of vested interests with no more commitment and passion for law

and justice. It has become a discredited force, a willing instrument of

power-brokers in a ruthless and violent cabal of power-games with noheart for the common man and the common cause. This is the requital the

Indian electorate gets for letting its political system putrefy by its

nonchalance and irresponsibility.

Politicisation of crime

The overworld is just the tip of the real, raw world. There are more

things hidden in this world than there are seen. This is soon realised byopportunist Indian politicians who seize the first available instance to enlist

the support of criminals and underground operators for their nefarious

designs. This in turn is a god-sent benison for criminals to restore their lostcredibility and social standing with the help of their association with the

custodians of power, apart from the security and protection from the police

that ensues from the association. They promptly grab the opportunity totheir advantage and show how useful they can be to politicians in theircareer-promotion designs and wreaking of personal vendettas. The

experience and professionalism of criminals is handy to politicians toexecute their nasty operations without attracting the stigma attached tothem.

The vast army of criminals has become a ready resource to them for use

whenever need arises. This has given a sense of confidence and security topoliticians, who are otherwise vulnerable in their highly uncertain,

challenging and competitive environment. Often politicians have so much

relied on criminals that the latter have became their most trustedlieutenants, even getting elected to legislature houses with their help and

blessings. There have been instances in India, where prominent politicians

have refused to disown their notorious criminal friends in public even after

reaching the vertex of their political career. This shows the sway held bycriminals over politicians in the Indian situation. It is a fact that no

syndicate of organised crime in small and big cities anywhere in the worldcan survive even for a day without political patronage. Ergo, all syndicates

of organized crime and their menace are the direct outcome of theintrenchant nexus between politicians and criminals, indeed with the police

as bystanders.


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Place of crime world

No criminal can take lightly the need for political patronage in running

his crime syndicate. Be they smuggling syndicates, gambling houses,narcotics dealers or plain hoodlums, the only way to survive is to havecomfortable political protection at the right levels. The crime syndicates en

revanche, pay a good percentage of their criminal gain to the protectors.

Thus, it is an arrangement to mutual advantage. The crime world alsoprovides hoodlums as volunteers to perform challenging tasks during the

election campaigns of their political patrons, apart from liberally financing

these campaigns. How can a politician, after he gains power with the helpof a criminal, ever let down the criminal? This symbiosis of politicians and

criminals which has emerged from the extant Indian political system is the

root cause of all the complications discussed until now.

The very fact that politicians are prepared to risk their reputations ratherthan distance themselves from the crime world, shows how highly the

world of crime is regarded by the politicians in their scheme of things.

Politics and crime have become the two faces of the same coin in thepresent state of affairs and a saying goes that there cannot be politics

without crime and no crime without politics. In the present Indian

situation, it is true that the lotus of politics can blossom only in the offal ofcrime.

Importance of violence

The need for organised violence is so high on the priorities of the Indian

politics that all political parties have created youth and volunteer wings toaccommodate young hoodlums as a fighting and street-smart force to

further the interests of the political party in street-fights and gang wars.Those who stand out among the recruits to these wings for their exemplary

courage and toughness are provided with fast promotional avenues to reach

the top and the fact that a very high percentage of ministers in IndianGovernments are the fighters from this arena gives a glisk to the high

priority of violence and crime in the present Indian political setup.

Criminalisation of police

It is an irony that politicians, whose patronage criminals sought to easethem from the straints of the police, brought the latter closer to each other,

building a bridge between them. The understanding reached betweencriminals and the police goes a long way in criminalising Indian public life

and blunting the effectiveness of the policing. Though the nexus between

criminals and the police is not a new phenomenon, that what was anexception once has become a rule now and what was a rule once has


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become an exception. The criminals overawed the weak police with their

connections with powerful politicians on one hand and lured the police

with easy money and comfort on the other and thus tilted the balance to

their advantage from the mouse and cat disadvantage they once sufferednot long ago. Though criminals played their political cards with adroitness,their real target a toutproposwas easing themselves from the pressures of

the police. This, they achieved with little cost by deftly flaunting their

political connections to a weak and crumbling police. Criminals didbusiness with officious police for huge grist to their coffers of professional

interests without giving away anything substantial in return, save trifling

throw aways. This itself, however, was an unimaginable bonanza to thelowly police of all ranks who had never seen life with open eyes outside

their regimens.

Crime and Indian politics

If some are born criminals, some choose the path consciously and some

others are constrained to follow the path. While faulty financial and social

policies forged by unenlightened politicians are responsible for forcingseveral helpless people to the path of criminality on the one hand, their

opportunistic, politically-motivated demarche more often drives sensitive

people on the path of revolt to inclip the fold of terrorism and violence.Naxalism, Sikh terrorism, the ULFA movement, Kashmir separatism,Hindu and Muslim militancy and even sympathy in India for the LTIE

cause are direct outcomes of the nonchalant political handling of thenational issues.

India has seen isolated political attempts in the past. to lure people outof the clutches of the crime world and rehabilitate them; these, however

form exceptions. The famous Chambal experiment initiated by the late Sri.Jayaprakash Narayan had some success in spite of discordant vibes raised

by the machinations of certain politicians in the area.

Political kidnapping

Political kidnapping is an international phenomenon that comminated

the world of diplomacy in excelsis in the 1970's. The menace trickled ontothe Indian scene though slowly, decisively in the 1980's. The realisation

that political ends can be easily met by the malengine of the kidnap-dramaopened up an aboideau to the terrorists who were acharne to meet persaltum their political telos. The increase in terrorist activities in India,perchance, as an outcome of the suspected" balkanisation of India" policy

adopted by some foreign countries, made political kidnapping an

ubiquitous reality on the Indian political scene from the latter half of the1980s.


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The terrorists of Kashmir and Punjab set the tone in India which was

picked up by the People's War Group and the ULFAs in the 1990s. The

inexperience of Indian political leaders in tackling the problem

complicated the matter. While most countries around the world explicateda policy of stubborn refusal to yield to kidnappers' demands under straintsa tout prix the Indian leaders goofed by displaying their weaknesses whil

people close to them were abducted, in yielding to demands as a quid pro

quo in releasing a large number of dangerous terrorists who were arrestedat huge cost and loss of lives. The situation has been further complicated

by adopting a policy of double standards in sacrificing the lives of lesser

mortals in some other cases. It is obviously sending a mauvais depechetothe would-be terrorists that the closer the proximity of the kidnapped to a

political leader, the bigger is the chance of meeting their political ends.

The reclame attached to the kidnap-drama and the arousal of the public

interest in the developments that follow is another dimension of thepolitical kidnapping that brings an identification and gives an image to a

terrorist outfit as nothing else can. It has become the fashion to initiate a

terrorist outfit with a kidnapping operation. This chevisancein the inchoatedrama proves the strength and resourcefulness of the new outfit and itslocus standi among such other outfits, in the way that the murders

committed by a recruit decides his place in the Mafia. The finessedisplayed in executing the operation to a successful end decides the futureof the organisation apart from the advantages of the ransom money and

release of compatriots. Interestingly, the first experiment of politicalkidnapping in the Indian scene was conducted in a foreign country in theform of the egregious abduction and killing of Mr. R.H. Mhatre, a junior

diplomat in the Birmingham consulate in the first week of February, 1984by JKLF militants.

Political kidnapping and murder is tout court the most heinous crime

that often involves the cold-blooded murder of absolutely innocent people

for political ends. The mental agony and postliminary destruction involvedto the maledict hostages and their near and dear ones because of the

misguided entrainement of a handful of greenhorns naturally make

kidnapping an infructuous political tool at the end.

The considerable fall in the incidences of political kidnapping on the

international scene of late is an indication of the increasing realisation ofthis fact. Crime scarcely survives in the situations of haute politiquelike

diplomacy and relations between nations. High thinking by enlightenedpeople functions as a catchpole to check the criminal tendencies from

being perpetuated. Political kidnapping on the Indian scene is also bound

to be a temporal phenomenon as seen other where in the world.


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A disturbing trend in political kidnapping is the possibility of

professional criminals like smugglers and drug pedlars resorting to

political kidnappings at the hest of their illegal profession in the guise of

political kidnappers. The accrescent dependence of terrorists andprofessional criminals on each adds to the complexity. This unhealthysituation is already true in India as it is in many other countries, a

pernicious cohabitation that's a zotic commination to peaceful international

order.

The kidnapping of Romanian charge d' affaires in India, Liviu Radu on

October 9, 1991 on his way to office by the Sikh militants is the firstinstance of a high ranking foreign national of diplomatic corps being

kidnapped by Indian militants to meet domestic political goals. This

succeeded, a series of similar kidnappings of Indian and foreign officialsby the People's War Group, the ULFA and the Kashmir militants. The

abduction of Mr. K-Doraiswamy, an aine director of the Indian OilCorporation by the JKLF militants and his postliminary release in

exchange for nine arrested Kashmir militants hit headlines in Indian

newspapers by the reason of the 'Stockholm syndrome' noticed in thehostage after his release. His empathy with his captors and their cause and

sympathetic references to Azad Kashmir, liberation struggle, misguided

boys etc. after his release rather than a degout to them were explained inthe language of the cooperative behaviour se defendendo of thepusillanimous hostages of a bank robbery in Stockholm in 1973, and is

indited in psychology texts as "Stockholm syndrome". The tendency of adiffident hostage to cooperate sans gene as the only dernier ressort andeven aid his captors at the damnurn ofseity may well-nigh turn out to be a

malengine in the hands of resourceful criminals to force a change inpolitical attitude in the symbiotic world of the criminals and politicians.

The salutary references of Mr. K. Doraiswamy to his captors au serieuxalso throw light on the possibility of his being conducted maestoso, non

obstante his otherwhere political affiliations, ipso facto suggesting that

political criminals more than often are gens de bienof high principles anda selfless goal to achieve. It is why these criminals come under a distinct

class and command furibund aficionado from specific sections of the

society, it be Subha and Sivarasan of the LTTE or Sukhadev Singh (Sukha)

and Harjinder Singh Jinda of the Sikh militants.

The Operation Rhino against the ULFA activists is a direct offshoot of aseries of kidnappings of Indian and foreign nationals and killing of some of

them by the ULFA militants in Assam. The People's War Group in AndhraPradesh is going progressively active in kidnapping government officials

to bring the state government on its knees. The government of Andhra

Pradesh is yet to take the gauntlet by the horns. The kidnap dramasexcoriate criminals, politicians and the police to a war of nerves and those


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who have steel nerves in them emerge successful in the end. The political

kidnappings are further complicating the welter created in the Indian and

international mise en scene by the rise of kidnappings for ransom sinecompe scere by misadventurous individuals or groups lucri causa. Thesemaof kidnappings becoming the piece de resistance of organised crimeas a means of making a fast buck is already evident on the Indian scene as

more and more reports of businessmen, industrialists or their relatives and

children being kidnapped for ransom appear in newspapers in Bihar, UttarPradesh, Assam, Punjab, Delhi, Calcutta, Bombay and even smaller places.

Ascensive anfractuosity of egregious mafia gangs in these operations is a

pollent possibility. The relevance of the police comes into the picture intheir ingine to check these pernicious developments. The

triste reality is that the Indian Police has failed to rise to the occasion till

now.

Police as a link

It can be categorically said that the business of crime cannot survive

anywhere if politicians and the police join hands to bring the crime worldto heel as is expected of them. Alas, it is not to be in a world of opportunist

politicians and muticous, weak police, both with an eye on the spoils of the

crime world. The police, actually, is the weak link in the troika of power-brokers. It is just a significant link between the major players of the drama,namely politicians and criminals, and functions as an instrument of

politicians to bring criminals to their grip and to tighten the prise.The roleof the police as a law-enforcing agency and its consequential hold oncriminals makes it a handy instrument for politicians.

Politicisation of police

The police is imprimis an executioner and odd job boy of the

government. This image of police is effectively made use by politicians for

all conceivable personal and official purposes. While low-ranking policeare put to use as body guards, gunmen, messengers, watchmen and odd-job

attenders, high-ranking police are put to the travails of the same odd jobs in

higher forms. It is a triste commentary on the present police that while

low-ranking police do the job as an unavoidable duty, high-rankingofficers compete and fight among themselves to get and attend to the odd

jobs of their political masters. This they do, even while they are fullyaware of the criminal antecedents and police histories of some of their

benefactors. Where is the passion of our police for law and justice, thefighting spirit against crime and lawlessness that should be the cardinal

professional emotions at all levels? It is just that our police has no more

commitment to justice and social cause and nothing seems worth the effort,save career promotions and creature comforts.


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has made the police think that its weapon is inviolable, though foul and

dangerously wrongful. However, sadly, it has forgotten that all are not the

same and that there are exceptions for everything. It is quite possible that

none of such unethical methods affect the few exceptionally strong-willed,noble individuals, but obsign their resolution not to yield to the pravity andfight out a tout prix. I know at least one bright senior officer, still in

service in the Kamataka police, who bore all such humiliations valiantly

and refused to give away even an inch from where he stands jusqu au boutwith stately grandeur even at the cost of his promotion.

Casualty of individuality

A police official who commits his time to the services of his favoured

politician is aware of his weak position that it may embarrass him when theconcerned politician loses his power. This consciousness sensitises him to

the need of garnering support from all around, including subordinates,colleagues and seniors. Any source of plain speaking among subordinates

is taken with serious apprehension and everything possible, either legal or

illegal, is plotted to keep such a source in place. It is ruthlessly hit in itsmost sensitive parts to bring it to its senses. This approach has led to a

myriad number of casualties: really bright, outstanding, conscientious and

four-square officers who inadvertently joined the police. Either they aremade to blunt their sensitivities and calibre to adapt to the ground reality orpack-up right away. The travails of ploughing the field for a fresh approach

are not only not allowed, but even the thought of such experimentation isroughed up. Is the police department doomed to be the cold-storage ofmusty, old skeletons without room for resilience? Those who reached the

top with the support of opportunistic politicians think so.

A political instrument

In an atmosphere where placements and transfers are decided by the

needs and wishes of self-seeking politicians, no police can efficientlyfunction nor can it be free from the vice priseof the politicians. It is not

surprising that power-esurient politicians more and more grab powers that

are legally and traditionally invested with the police department when the

top brass lack the strength of character and conviction. This leads to aposition wherein the police department becomes a chessboard on which

politicians move their pieces to checkmate their adversaries and win thepolitical game in their favour. In other words, the police sans effective

leadership is becoming more a handmaid of politicians by moving awayfrom its sacred role as the guardian of law and justice and protector of the

society and the common man. The credit of bringing the police from its

height of power to the present level of absolute submission should go tothe superior strength of personality of wily politicians who bent the police


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on their own terms with selective use of stick and carrot. This police is not

the police and what it does is not policing in the proud sense of the term.

Changed role

With the increscent involution of the p lice with glidder politicians, the

conception of the police about its own role has undergone a large-scale

change. No more does it look at crime control and maintenance of order asits first duty. With this, the concern for crime control received a setback

and crime control and investigation have receded to the last priority except

when politicians are interested in them for a specific purpose. Only crimesthat disturb politicians foment police to galvanic and meaningful action.

Other crimes receive no priority. The very definition of the gravity of

crime is adapted to suit the new conception. Those crimes which aretolerated by politicians are no more crimes. The self-image of the police as

'a fearless arbiter of crime' is changed to a solicitous servant in attendanceat the pleasure of a politician master. This blunting of the crime card of the

police has made it less awe-inspiring and less deserving of respect from the

criminals. The police has more and more realised that criminals,particularly those from organised syndicates are personal friends of its

political masters and it is no match for the criminals in terms of wealth,

influence and social standing. The men of the police see those criminals onequal footing with their political masters and learn to treat them with awe.They find it absurd to act with authority against the immarcescible

criminals who are too high for the small stature of the police. It isunfortunate that the police of the present day has never realised its infinitestature as a law-enforcing agent vis a vis all others including criminals and

politicians whom it is empowered to search, arrest and take to court if theydeviate from their rightful path. Sadly, the trifling wealth and the

concomitant "big-man" image of others appears to the present police asmore appealing than its own awful police authority.

Reversal of functions

The very possibility that policemen trade off their awful authority lucri

causa is an astounding phenomenon. Undoubtedly, the poor salaries and

inadequateworking conditions have brought about this sad state of affairs.The hafthas and such periodical shares of the spoils from criminal

activities often are the mainstayof the well-being of many police families.This tristeglissade has unfortunatelypermeated even to the highest levels

in the police as reported in a shameful case from Karnataka sometime backin 1990 wherein a IPS man and his wife on the day of the former's

retirement were taken to the court of law by the public on the complaint of

defrauding the public by selling tickets in the name of a spastic society charity show and collecting money eo nomine.The event made big news


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with boldheadlines splashed across newspapers at the time. That apart, the

importance of various police jobs is determined in police circles on the

basis of the potential of the posts for attracting illegal money from the

crime world. And jobs with potentialfor such gains are most sought afterand the concours for such jobs is so high thatoften postings to such jobsare bought by paying money in lakhs. Indeed, theinvestment is made with

the esperance of making it back several times over withina short period

thereafter in synergy with the crime world. It is the reason why lawandorder posts, traffic policing, postings in the food enforcement cell and even

certain vigilance jobs outside the police as in the KEB for instance are

known asjobs to be earned by beating out cut-throat competition whilemany other jobs are known to be punishment postings and are largely

detested. It goes without saying that judging jobs on the basis of the

gauntlets they provide or on the opportunity ofservice is now a matter ofyore. It is the crime world with the wealth it appropriatesto each job that

decides the importance or otherwise of the police jobs and ipso factocontrols the type and calibre of officers in each job. In other words, it is the

criminals who invisibly control the police ab extra rather than the police

controllingthe criminals. This reversal of functions has lots to do with thelow morale of thepresent Indian police. Its members find themselves at the

mercy of criminals whomthey are supposed to trammel and bring to book.

The police is no more confident that it is mentally and organisationallyequipped to treat criminals in malam partem.

Weakened police

The increasingly powerful and modernised crime syndicates vis a vis

the age-old police force have made crime control a misnomer in the Indiancontext. The decreasing percentage of the police presence due to its failure

to keep pace with the population growth in the face of the increasing crimedensity, the disadvantage of the police in re the speed of communication,

transportation and weaponry before the ultra-modern machines of the

crime world, the advantage of criminals in terms of the choice of time andplace of operation and concomitant superior numerical strength and ability

to produce surprises and the highly skilled and motivated cadres of the

criminal world pressing down a demoralised and indifferent police give

criminals an edge over the police in their encounters. Consequently, policefatalities in such encounters are increasing. This holds good for terrorist

groups, too. Ergo, the police in India is no longer keen to actively interferewith the activities of the crime world. The understanding between the

criminals and police is that both confine themselves to their respectivefields and avoid embarrassing each other. The police is duly paid for its

silence while stray troublemakers who jump in medias res are silenced.

The Indian police is sane enough to quickly realise that its interests are safe


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jobs are without any job content and responsibility and often are places to

relax from the pressures of family life. However, the same courtesy does

not extend to the more unfortunate ranks at lower levels including the

constabulary. While vacancies at the topmost level are filled up bypromotions strictly overnight, promotions at intermediary levels areeffected in weeks or fortnights or months, depending on the rank in the

police hierarchy. It is years in the case of the constabulary. There are cases

where vancancies of Head Constables and Assistant Sub-Inspectors orSub-Inspectors are not filled up for several years, depriving the

constabulary of their de jure promotions. There are any number of

instances of men in the constabulary, retiring without a promotion nonobstantetheir eligibility and seniority for the existing vacancies, which are

not filled up from many years. Policing is a job, performed mostly at lower

levels with decreasing involvement upto the level of Superintendent ofPolice. Beyond that, it is tout courta supervisory task and in a police force

with no supervision to speak of, higher ranks are just de trop.Any move toexpand these ranks and any undue haste to promote to these levels cannot

be called honest decisions in the functional or public interest.

Unfortunately, the Indian police is doing just that and there is none to put itback on the right track.

Management of human resources

The position is worse in recruitment. Selection has become a misnomer.

It is random at best and high business at its worst. This approach torecruitment may turn out to be a highly dangerous situation for both thegovernance and public life of India. Policing is a highly sensitive

profession and requires only specially equipped people to handle it. Itdemands certain specific traits in its officers which cannot be learnt by any

amount of training. The police being the ultimate power-bearer on thestreet, the public look to it as a model and its mien decides public trust in

the government In the circumstances, the wrong selection to the police is

bound to be fatal to the national life. India is deeply mired in such adangerous situation now. There is a price fixed for each rank of the police.

How can a fresh recruit who enters service by paying a bribe be expected

not to reap returns from his large investment? What can be his mental

picture of the service he enters? It is absurd to expect professional policingfrom such a recruit. Those who permit such nasty doings in the police or

involve themselves to bring the organisation to its painfully slow sphacelusare the butchers of a great tradition.

Even when there is genuine scope for proper selection in recruitment,

nothing is done to rope in the really competent. It is either because none

bother much to have a really competent person in the slot or because of theincompetence of the persons entrusted with the job Of selection. The


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common aim of the police in recruitment now is to complete the job

without inviting legal hurdles at the best.

Sometimes, even rules are overstepped to cut short procedures and doaway with cumbersome work. Even sensitive posts at the lowest level likepolice drivers are filled up arbitrarily and quality suffers as a result. This is

equally so in matters of transfers as discussed in detail elsewhere.

Line of command

Everything is not right in the spine of the police organisation namely thehierarchical order - itself. The importance of honesty, integrity, hard work

and excellence is replaced with personal loyalty and usefulness for

personal odd jobs. This is the outcome of the natural devolution ofpersonal loyalty to politicians at higher levels on the ladder. Those who do

not come up to the expectations of personal loyalty, fall out of favour andare eliminated from the line of command as persona non grata. This

pravity has a more demoralising effect in a force of line of command than

meets the eye. This trait in the organisation results in the deflection ofbrighter, proud and four-square officers to insignificant jobs to the

advantage of the opportunistic ones who are insecure and ergo tend to

make up their famishment with personal loyalty to those in power. It is themain contributing factor for the slow degeneration of the present Indianpolice.

Quality is suppressed

There are some unwanted under currents in the Indian police that makepride, efficiency, excellence, originality and such superior qualities the

objects of fear and hatred. Perhaps, these superior qualities do not go pari

passu with the line of command by the reason of the insecure feelings,

these superior qualities rouse higher in the line. The fear is not based on

reality in a disciplined force like police where the line of commandfunctions a tout proposwithout reference to personal traits. The question is

why this fear surfaces in the modem police while the pre-independent

police with all its better manpower could run without it. The possible

answer is that the line of command is a perfect mechanism in a disciplinedforce when the force indulges in de jureprofessional duties. However, the

line of command becomes increasingly strained when it is used forpersonal ends as of late. Ergo, ultimately, it is a vicious circle wherein poor

leadership leads to elimination of quality and that in turn results in poorerleadership which slowly blights the police organisation to its tristelogical

end.


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Police brotherhood

The police is a sacred confrerie of those who choose policing as

their profession. It is here, as brothers irrespective of caste, creed, socialstanding, rank or personal traits, they live as one, in the interests of thecommon objective of crime control and maintenance of law and order.

How can this ideal which was once a strikingly kenspeckle reality survive

in changed circumstances where there is no common cause except personaladvancement at the cost of everything? Consequently, groupism is

abounding in the police force and jealousy has become a characteristic

feature of the ranks. There is no mutual warmth among police personnel.The police force, once a smooth silk fabric, is now in shreds with each

group pulling on opposite sides to the detriment of the unity, essential to its

survival in view of the natural job hazards. Indifference to the other'spredicament is a rule in the police these days. Often, those in the police

contribute to each other's misfortune because of accidental bad blood orjust fun. No confrerie is patent anywhere in the present Indian police.

Lack of planning

The police, by the nature of its jobs, is required to walk hand in hand

with modem advancements to keep itself fit and functionally effective. Thegeneral reluctance of the Indian police to adapt to new ideas and theungainly handling of modernisation projects have resulted in its falling en

wrier in terms of modem machines and organisational techniques incomparison to the syndicates of organised crime which keep themselvespan passu with neoteric findings and inventions to keep themselves inexcelsis of the effectiveness. En attendant, modem communication,information, transport, office and armament gadgets are bought for the

police on the advice of some sales agents without creating the adequateinfrastructure or trained personnel for their use and without assessing the

real need of such equipments in the existing police situation. As a result,

the gadgets so bought, fall apart with desuetude after the initialentrainement cools down. Such a light-hearted approach to modernisation

results in the police becoming more and more an obsolete unit, apart from

putting an unproductive burden on the state exchequer.

The police is one of the most vital instruments of the public

administration and works as a link between the executive arm andjudiciary. It is the ears, eyes and limbs of the government. No government

with a failing police system can survive whatever be its other assets. It isagainst this background that the glitches bedevilling the present Indian

police should be viewed. Any complacency at this stage about the existing

police system may prove too costly for the unity and well-being of thecountry and the health of its governance.


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Professional policing

The police of India imprimis,should be extricated from the clutches of

criminals and politicians to make it a professional policing outfit withobjectivity and commitment to its task as the cardinal gospel. Bothcriminals and politicians have stakes in the style of functioning of the

police and neither of them, the criminals with their easy money and the

politicians with their easy power, let the police slip from their grip. Thereis no point in beginning the cleansing operation from the sides of the

criminals or politicians. It has to begin from the side of the police by

insulating it from the vile influences of criminal wealth and politicalpower. If this bifarious object is fulfilled, all others fall into place by

themselves. Once the vile shadows of the criminals and politicians are

removed from the face of the police, it is certain to resile to its oldprofessional self - a highly committed, motivated and efficient force. But

the golden question is how to achieve this end and save the police fromthese two debilitating influences.

Independent police

In a free society like India with a democratic political system in the

saddle, interaction between various strata of society is a naturalphenomenon and efforts to raise barriers between blocks is bound to beinfructuous. Yet the gauntlet of saving the police from dangerous

influences should be courageously taken up in the national interest. Thefact of the police being a disciplined force is both an advantage anddisadvantage in this stupendous challenge. It is an advantage because the

weapon of discipline, if discreetly employed, can be used to block thepolice from undue interaction with unwanted elements. It is a disadvantage

because the police with its trained response may find it difficult to isolateitself from the personal behests of its political masters. It is left to police

leaders to devise appropriate techniques to make the best use of the

existing advantages in this sacred and patriotic task. To begin with,somebody among the police leaders should decide to bell the cat. Who can

do that while all of them are willing partners in creating the vested nexus

that helps them to ascend to their present high positions in the hierarchy?

Yet, the world is not as bad it is painted. There have to be exceptions foreverything and thus, good people among the police too, who by the quirks

of dextro tempore avoid the long arms of Satan and survive to reach theplace where they rightfully belong. These breaches in the otherwise swarth

layers of clouds throw rays of hope upon the future of Indian police.


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Police authority

The first and foremost job to be done is to free the police from the

unhealthy influence of all hues of politicians by making it responsible to anindependent authority with absolute power to take decisions on matterspertaining to policing and police organisation. The authority should be a

professional body with men of proven probity and quality as members,

who have reached a stage from where they need not sacrifice theirconvictions to appease those in power. A working arrangement is to be

devised by which the authority is responsible directly to the legislature and

functions as an independent authority like the judiciary, Comptroller andAuditor General or Election Commissioner.

Core group

The damage already done to the police by the ancien regime can beundone by overhauling the recruitment procedure and investing utmost

care to ensure that really the best from the job seekers are let in to the

service. Any interference in matters of recruitment should be promptly anddecisively resisted. To make recruitment an efficient operation, only highly

qualified officers of proven probity should be entrusted with the task with

the absolute authority to take decisions within the framework of law. Theugly head of bribery in recruitment should be ruthlessly crushed and theunhealthy tendency of making recruitment a business should be curbed tout

a fait.Infusion of good blood at least at this late hour is certain to undo thedamage done till now and bring the ancien regimeyet extant inside to itssenses. Indeed, the recruitment should be followed with a sound training

that sensitises the recruits to their professional ethics and motivates them totheir sacred duties and responsibilities.

Contented police personnel

Police jobs should be made attractive with good salaries and satisfactoryworking conditions that give the strength to resist the bait thrown by the

criminals. It is proved by social scientists that the incidence of bribery is

inversely proportional to the financial strength of a social group. Therefore,

better salaries and eximious working conditions definitely make the policeless sensitive to these lures. This would be a major step in prising the hold

of criminals over the police. The measure must be closely followed by aperficient and strictly professional policy of placements to ensure the right

man comes to the right job with merit and honesty being duly rewarded.Measures to ensure an unbiased assessment of the work and character of

subordinates strengthen and place the police organisation on sound footing.

Those who are empowered to assess subordinates and their work must bemade answerable therefore and any unscrupulous and random discharge of


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their duties should condemn them forever for the misuse of this sacred

responsibility to the future of the organisation.

Fair play

Creation of a high power core group of people who are adept in

assessing men and character within the aforesaid police authority may help

to create a feeling of confidence and job security and prod them intodischarging their official duties fearlessly. This group which oversees the

work of police personnel from a distance should be made ultimately

responsible for all career decisions. The responsibility of officers inassessing the work of their subordinates which forms the major

embarrassment of the present Indian police must be limited to giving their

opinion about performance to the core group; the expert core groupprocesses the opinion by its own research, expertise and discretion and

takes responsible decisions on its own. The group must be maderesponsible for development planning of the police, work assessment, job

analysis, recruitment and management of human resources. Institution of

such a core group to oversee the career development of police personnelwithout personal bias may bring revolutionary changes by committing the

police to its work ethics and professional ends with due single-mindedness.

Mental quality

It is a tragedy in the current Indian police that there is no relationbetween the efficiency and performance of an official and his standing inthe organisation. The police officials are so indifferent to the performance

of their subordinates and their work turnout that they are absolutely in thedark about the standard of work turned out under their supervision.

Another reason for this sad affair may be that they are unqualified toassess. This situation leads to random assessment when a senior is

statutorily bound to assess and in the process, talent withers and

opportunists overtake high-calibre workers on the hierarchical ladder. Thistragic melange can be brought to order by exposing police officers

periodically to motivation courses where they are taught about the work

they are required to perform, its importance and how to discharge their

duties. There is an innate trait in the police that makes people entering itshut their minds and distance themselves from all hues of mental activities.

Police training must endeavour to break this trait and coax trainees to opentheir minds and reflect on all matters before making decisions. Often, the

habit of reading becomes a casualty, once a person enters the police. Thepolice is in no way antipodean to mental and scholastic pursuits. It is a

mystery what there is in the police that binds its men to let their minds and

hearts languish by desuetude. Police researchers must look to this matter tomould the police into an organisation which acts and thinks before


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resorting to action. Before this happens, police training has a major role to

make a recruit a thinking animal with a heart to feel and an intelligent

instinct to follow.

Professional knowledge

This negative approach to reading and thinking has resulted in poor

professional knowledge in the police, particularly at the higher ranks.Work knowledge is generally limited to what is remembered from previous

work experience and bits of what is learnt from books during police

training, decades before. Their defective conception about supervisioncompounds the situation by depriving them of the benefit of learning new

things during supervision of work. The style of supervision in the police

should be seen to be believed. All orders to subordinates emanate from aperfect void. The orders warrant subordinates to feed them what is to be

done in a given situation and the reply received is returned to the samesubordinate as an order to perform. The best style of supervision in the

police is no more than holding a meeting of subordinates wherein the latter

are allowed to arrive at a course of action to meet a given challenge, andthe decision is returned to them as an order to perform. This style of

ineffective supervision must stop if quality is required in police work. The

system of overlapping supervision because of multiple ranks, where nonereally discharges his supervisory role must be scrapped to make the policea meaningful organisation. A thorough overhauling of police training

programmes and application of modem organisation techniques to bring ineffective check and control mechanisms would go a long way inameliorating the ground realities in the police.

Universality of crime

On ultimate analysis, crime is a universal phenomenon. All living

beings are criminals in varying degree. Criminal thought is a part of the

natural function of a healthy mind as is the moral restraint that prevents thecriminal thought from being acted upon. External restraints brought about

by the fear of law, custom and adverse reaction reinforce the inner restraint

to prevent the committing of crime. However, as the force of external

restraints weakens for diverse reasons and the proportion of gain to bemade in committing a crime overweighs the risks involved in the balance

sheet of the operation, the lure of crime increases and the deed is done. It isthe social situation which controls the external restraints to make

committing a crime an asset or a liability and thereby decides theproliferation or suppression of crime with human nature being what it is

always. Criminals are criminals because society gives them easy openings

to thus meet their needs. Politicians love to befriend criminals rather thanbring them to book because the society they live in makes their lives


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comfortable with criminals as friends rather than as adversaries. Policemen

find the crime world sweeter because it is how things stand for them. The

remedy for the proliferation and endearment of crime lies in changing the

social dynamics to make crime a liability to criminals and criminals aliability to politicians and the police. In the existing nexus of politics,crime and police, crime is an asset to criminals and criminals are an asset

to politicians and police. Criminals should not be construed as a separate

block of citizenry. They are a cross-section of people from all fields of lifewho have moved beyond a commonly accepted degree in their criminal

tendencies. Criminality may be prolific in certain civilised fields like

commerce and industry in the form of tax evasion, violation of foreignexchange regulations, hoarding etc; such crimes are generally not taken

seriously in spite of the public awareness of the crimes, with the social

standing of the criminals remaining unaffected. Government servants toocome under this category of criminals because of the unconfined

corruption in public life. It is a fact that Indian public life is a vast field ofcriminal activities and politicians and police, though the custodians and

protectors of the Indian public life, form part of the crime world. However,

knowledge of the involvement of politicians and police in this nasty worldstirs the public conscience, for the reason that they are supposed to be the

people on whom the public relies to save them. But, it cannot be because

they are also part of the society which makes public life a nasty affair andnourishes it.

Crime and national economy

A word about the effect of the nasty nexus between politics, crime and

police on the national economy. Unity gives strength. It is true about thenasty nexus also. The only telos of the nexus is gain by synergy, the

synergy which brings confidence and courage to the troika in its nefariousactivities, thereby inducing it to more daring and innovative criminal

activities. This results in proliferation of crime, apart from affecting the

quality of crime by opening up new avenues for operation. As the ultimateend of all crime is illegal gain and the incidence of crime is directly related

to increase in black money in the national economy, the proliferation of

crime invariable results in inflation and the weakening of the national

economy.

More dangerously, it results in a polarisation of the society into criminalrich and honest poor and destroys the country's moral fabric. The

increscent incidence of easy money, material comforts and political powerof the criminal rich ultimately leads to internal strife, emeuteand popular

terrorism.


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Social polarization

The indulgence of the rich and powerful in crime popularises criminal

activities by bringing an aura of status to them and negating all inhibitionsin the popular mind. Society easily accepts the example of the wealthy andpowerful for making an easy buck to lead comfortable lives in the world

where life is becoming increasingly difficult because of the spurt in black

money, caused by the proliferation of crime. While decent life becomesimpossible by honest methods, the need of survival forces honest citizenry

to accept crime as a way of life as the last resort. This would be where

politicians, criminals and police lead the country.

Easy money and easy wealth have a tendency to inflate. Criminals tend

to spend lavishly. This ends up in a spurt in prices of land, building andessential commodities while honest men have to toil hard for an extra

quarter. Crime begets money and money begets more money and moremoney begets power, comfort and everything. In the crush, honest man is

lost forever. The ocean of criminal wealth around him which is beyond

even his wildest dreams frustrates him and ravages his sense of moralityand righteousness. It turns him violently against all human values and

decency, leading him to a world of crime and violence. It is what we see in

Punjab, Kashmir, Assam, in far away Srilanka or even in Naxalism whereit is hidden in the guise of political ideology. It is an irony that politiciansand the police, who create the demons, eat their own pies by falling to the

bullets of the grievously hurt, self-righteous, once innocent people. It issaid that even the dacoits in Chambal are symptomatic of this social andeconomic malady.

It is true that crime cannot be eliminated from any society as the

tendency to commit crime is ingenerate in human nature. However, crimecan be supressed by appropriate straints. What straints and how they are to

be applied are ironically decided by politicians and the police. If they come

out of their indulgent interests to commit themselves to their professionalobjectives, they can certainly save India from the present predicament. Not

that every politician and every policeman can come out to achieve this

noble task, but there certainly are noble elements yet surviving as

exceptions among them, who should take up cudgels in favour of theIndian polity and sacrifice their lives and careers, if necessary, to make the

renaissance of Indian police and Indian public life possible. The questionyet to be posed is whether the inveterate vested interests will let these

sacrifices bear fruit. Let us hope for the best.


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INDIAN POLICE AT THE

CROSSROADS

Policing is a reaction of the society to its warped situations. The process

of policing is always in a state of flux to keep a la hauteur de rapidlyevolving nature of the social complexities. In this sense, the police is a

reflection of the face of the national life. Stability in the national life slows

down the process of policing; a volatile situation strings police to hightension and energises it. Growth or retardation in social progressaccordingly reflects the style of policing. When the nation stands at the

crossroads, the police also finds itself on compita:at the intersection of a

reneging past and a converging future. This is where India and its policestand now after four decades of becoming a republic. As with old

generations which saw life, society and politics prior to the independencegive way to new generations in national life and old passions and values

atrophy before the gust of speed, smartness and a garish way of life, thepolice too finds itself in a peregrine role with no past for continuity and no

future for creativity. The police finds itself rising from a claut to pave the

new path; it must blindly choose from alternatives, it thinks available to it.There is no past experience to fall upon, no future guidelines to pursue.Yet, it must walk with time to fulfil its raison d'etre. The Indian police

finds itself in this blind-spot today, at the crossroads from where it should

build bridges to the future. The immanent swither of the compitais like thenew freedom of a caged animal. It must acclimatise and warm up to the

new situation, shed usmental fetters, bring strength to its legs and learn tomove au naturel. A slip at this stage would be a sempiternal tragedy; a

right move here would be a lucky rise forever. At this stage in its

evolution, the possibilities are endless. The Indian police now stands at thismomentous juncture.

Importance of police in national life

The police and policing are larger than an individual and his self-

interests. The police is an institution

Documents

POLICING FOR THE NEW AGE - Ensemble of articles on police and policing in India