With the law and order situation fast deteriorating in Uttar Pradesh, the Governor’s don’t-ride-the-political horse and set-your-house-in-order sermons to cops have again raised the crucial question: who will police the police.
CELEBRATIONS TURNED sour. The annual police parade on the sprawling grounds of the Police Lines virtually turned into a ‘crime meeting’ presided over by Governor TV Rajeswar. His acerbic comments on the rapidly deteriorating law and order and the complete politicisation of the UP Police caused ripples among senior IPS officers.
While some were left long-faced, others rejoiced at the predicament of the leadership. Maha Mahim’s plainspeak over rising crime however evoked mixed response among the officers. The Governor, himself a retired senior IPS officer, had twice counseled top cops during the last two police parades to mend their ways and become professional. But the situation seems to have become irreversible.
There is a feeling among the officers that instead of properly concentrating on crime control, the police had been implementing the ruling party agenda.
However, politicisation of the police is not a new phenomenon. “The police functioned as ‘blue brigade’ during Mayawati regime,” commented a senior IPS officer.
{{/usCountry}}However, politicisation of the police is not a new phenomenon. “The police functioned as ‘blue brigade’ during Mayawati regime,” commented a senior IPS officer.
{{/usCountry}}Interestingly, seeing the rising fortunes of the BSP, some police officers have started ‘parikrama’ of BSP leaders. Recently, a controversial IPS officer had a one-on-one with a BSP leader and apologised for his past mistake.
The Governor’s sermons, which reverberated during the Police Week, even forced Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to come out with strong rebuttal.
Senior SP leaders Mohan Singh and Ramgopal Yadav reeled out National Crime Bureau (NCB) data to claim that UP was not a ‘bad boy’.
DGP Bua Singh also dished out figures to claim that UP was one of the ten best-policed States. But the police have not been able to change the perception of the people.
The reason is not far to seek. The image is because of the failure to control a section of cops. Thus the Governor chose the annual parade to tell senior police officers about their wrong approach to discharge duties. He implied that the situation of cops riding piggyback on politicians was a dangerous trend. He said senior police officers could raise their heads in pride only when they were impartial in their functioning. If the Governor appreciated the Supreme Court’s seven-point directives, including fixed two years tenures for the DGP and other senior officers, he had justified reasons for this perception.
There is no doubt that the State police had seriously faltered. Even though VKB Nair was doing well as DGP, Yashpal Singh was brought in to dislodge him. But with the situation taking a turn for the worse, Bua Singh replaced Yashpal.
However, the political leadership does not appear to be satisfied with the prevailing situation. The officers have been asked to gear up and deliver within 15 days. The deadline set is crucial for the DGP.
Making a presentation on discipline, training and morale of the police personnel at the officers’ conference, ADG PPS Sidhu said: “Discipline, comradeship, leadership and self respect form the basis of morale. Good discipline within a unit is the foundation of good discipline throughout the force and is based on good man management”. But the situation in the police could be gauged from the fact that during the last nine months 272 cases were registered against cops for their criminal conduct. The DGP said 87 cops had been jailed, 40 sacked and 191 suspended. Sidhu said cops’ morale could be improved by (a) an unbiased and proactive leadership (b) prompt action on grievances (c) utilization of human resources in accordance with capability (d) clear unambiguous policy and its execution and last but most important “leader’s own personal conduct”.
The police morale for which even senior officers are also equally responsible appears to have hit an all time low. As Sidhu’s presentation indicated, there are reports of:
unauthorised absence,
increased negligence on the job,
greater indiscipline,
lack of faith in the organisation, which resulted in outside influence in service matters (read politicisation)
lack of pride in the organisation and uniform causing cynicism,
disrespect to superiors and
poor turnout.
Increasing caste imbalance in the UP Police has also led to consternation among officers. Already there are growing cases of indiscipline due to it. While the process had been going on for a long time, it assumed serious dimension during the last three years because of appointment spree in the department.
During the last two years there had been nearly 18,000 appointments in the police and the PAC. Senior police officers are worried that caste imbalance, in which one community with around 30 to 35 per cent representation at the constable level, could create functioning problem in future.
It could lead to a Bihar-type situation, commented an IG. “There are already cases of insubordination,” said an additional director general (ADG). He said the people of one community had been joining the force with “divided loyalty” which was a serious trend. The ADG said mobilisation on caste lines in the force would have an adverse impact on the performance of the department in the long run.
The attack on Firozabad district police chief Amitabh Thakur by some cops was a pointer to this direction. Significantly, cops accompanying Thakur refused to protect him. Similarly, some cops beat up a sub-inspector in Kannauj. In fact, there are many more instances of gross indiscipline in the police, the IG said.
mhasan@hindustantimes.com