IDN TAKE: Need To Concentrate On Our Policing Before Situation Goes Out of Control

by Brigadier Arun Bajpai (Retd)

In the recent report released by National Crime Bureau of India on Thursday 01 Dec for 2016, the picture of crime state in the country is mind boggling. It clearly shows that our policing in India is far behind in the proper implementation of policing while criminals and history sheeter are having a field day. It is time Indian Netas wake up to the threat looming large on the horizon. They should not forget that people have patience only up to a point.

Police all over the world has to implement three basic principles to keep the crime in check. First, ground patrolling or what was earlier called beat patrolling. This must be done on foot in a laid down beat or area. In India this is almost getting extinct with policemen riding motorcycles or dial 100 vehicles. They stop the vehicle at a Dhabas or Paan Shops, sleeping away to glory. Criminals know that they do not have to fear chance encounter with police. Second. Police picketing at various places which could be permanent as also temporary. This gives a message to criminals that the police is active. This demoralises criminals. This is being done currently in haphazard manner and without imagination. Third, Surveillance. Currently police is depending more on this because this does not require movements. But then criminals are ahead here also having found ways and means to beat this surveillance.

Another speciality of Indian police is that they harass the complainant himself if he is not an important person. If he is an aam adami then more often than not his complaint is not registered. Or registered when the person gives sufficient bribe to Daroga ji. Last year in an UP Police Thana, the complete staff of 24 policemen went on hunger strike because they said Daroga ji is not equitably distributing the bribe money. Even after the FIR has been registered in police thans, if the other party gives more bribe then the case under investigation is so badly spoiled that the judge has got no option but to acquit the accused criminal. This ensures that criminals have no fear of law. It is really surprising that why our law makers do not bring in a law where it becomes mandatory for all judges to comment on quality of investigation in their judgements? Where they comment adversely on investigation the investigating officer must be punished. This should be mandatory. No line Hazir business please. Punishment must be recorded in his dossier.

Today lot of senior police officers resort to writing letters to junior police officers instead of going on the ground and checking functioning of the police on the ground and giving them guidance and motivation .This going to ground by senior police officers must happen more often. All police Thana’s must be inspected as surprise checks by senior police officers. There is a need to keep on monitoring activities of all Rapists, History sheeter, and criminals on active lists. This will ensure that they do not get a free hand. Besides this will put fear of God in them. Also there is need to reactivate in towns and villages the old system of community policing, as also street and village security committees. Senior police officers must visit far flung places in their area of responsibility, stay overnight at these places, motivate and guide police officers posted there. Also the senior police officers must give time bound tasks to their juniors and the implementation monitored.

For this rising crime graph in India only blaming police is not correct. The policing being a state subject, it is common knowledge that the party in power in state treats its police as its Army. There is unlimited political interference in functioning of police in states on daily basis. This may have carried on till date but with 80 corer people of India below 35 years of age now with them having 77% literacy, this will not do in future. Now people of India are gradually understanding their rights in democracy. It also a must now that all states must implement the Police Reforms suggested by the Supreme Court in 2007. SC must take serious view of those states who have not implemented these reforms in letter and spirit. Finally it is also now a must that we in India amend our constitution to bring law and order subject in the concurrent list of both state and centre. With this rising crime graph there is dire need in the country to have an FBI type police force with centre to act against any criminal or Jehadi at any place in the country without going through the tedious route of that state police route with so many leaks.

Brig Arun Bajpai (Retd) is a distinguished Defence and Strategic Analyst. Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of IDN. IDN does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same

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