Colleagues? thumbs down to Bua?s claim

NOTWITHSTANDING DGP Bua Singh?s crime-in-control claim, there is hardly any taker for that even in his own department. While the DGP talks about considerable reduction in cases of crime under all major heads, his colleagues say the police department?s image has taken a nosedive, especially on two counts: First, because of the ever-growing ?criminal activities of the cops?, and secondly, due to its utter failure in fixing rough elements close to the ruling dispensation.

NOTWITHSTANDING DGP Bua Singh’s crime-in-control claim, there is hardly any taker for that even in his own department.

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While the DGP talks about considerable reduction in cases of crime under all major heads, his colleagues say the police department’s image has taken a nosedive, especially on two counts: First, because of the ever-growing ‘criminal activities of the cops’, and secondly, due to its utter failure in fixing rough elements close to the ruling dispensation.

Also, there are numerous reports of other lapses. Non-registration of FIRs, for instance. At a recent what-to-do meeting of ADGs to improve the situation, one officer even told the DGP right on his face that FIRs were not being registered and that it had led to widespread resentment among the people.

But there he was, reeling out hackneyed crime data to prove improvement in the situation. Things were not the same when Bua Singh started eight months back.

Even his predecessors believed in him. But that was not to be. And while Singh now claims a “change in people’s perception” about law and order, his colleagues feel, “people like SP corporator Bantu Yadav have made a mockery of the situation and have failed the top cop”.

Bantu, who was finally arrested last week for his criminal activities, had virtually become a pain in the neck of the Lucknow police. “Such people, who are in league with the police because of their proximity to the ruling party, have become a major problem for the department. Bantu is part of a bigger malaise haunting the UP police,” said an IPS officer adding there was a feeling among officers that the department had  failed to achieve the target.

With  criticism reaching a fever pitch, it is to be seen how the top cop manages things in days to come. Already, his colleagues have been waiting to listen to the Governor TV Rajeswar, who has expressed his displeasure over the crime situation in the State, at the police week tomorrow. 

Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami is also in town to review UP’s preparedness for the assembly polls.  And there lies Bua Singh’s real test, notwithstanding the data he reeled out at Tuesday’s press conference.