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Srikrishna suggests steps to boost Bombay police's image

The Justice B N Srikrishna Commission which probed into the 1992-93 post Babri Masjid demolition riots in Bombay has strongly criticised political interference in police work, which it said has a demoralising effect on the force.

The commission, in its findings, said political interference in police work during the riots was evident, as ministers and politicians of different shades descended upon police stations to browbeat or pressurise the officers in-charge to release arrested persons who were, according to them, innocent.

The commission, in its report which was tabled in the state legislature yesterday, observed that their visiting police stations while the riot was in progress and their questioning the officers in-charge about arrests and insisting upon interviews with the arrested persons, was highly demoralising and amounted to interference in the police's work.

Communal goondas and mischievous elements get vocal representation inside the police station which interrogates and arraigns the arresting officer, as if he is on trial, the commission said, and strongly felt that this must be avoided at all cost and any information which such ministers and dignitaries desire must be routed through the commissioner of police with whom only they should interact.

The commission observed that while it may be legitimate for ministers and elected representatives to tour their constituencies or area under their charge for effective supervision of riot control and rehabilitation measures, they should be strictly prohibited from visiting police stations and interfering with policing, including searches, seizures and combing during riotous situations.

The commission observed that once prosecution has been launched against a person for rioting or other communal offence, it should under no circumstances be withdrawn. It is not only demoralising to the police, but also sends wrong signals to the offenders that they can somehow get away, the commission said in its report.

The commission, while suggesting several long and short-term measures for restoring the authority of law and refurbishing the image of the police, stressed the need for removing the comic Pandu Hawaldar image perpetuated by Bollywood and substituting it with the image of professional policeman who is sensitive to the problems of the law abiding public, but hardened enough to deal with crooks and criminals. The goal must be to project the image of the Bobby in London, Mounty in Canada or NYPD officers in USA albeit translated into the Indian idiom, the commission said.

The commission's suggestions included measures to improve methods of registration of crime, investigations, trial of cases, effective utilisation of intelligence machinery, physical fitness of the police personnel , improvement in public relations machinery and improvement of weaponry and communication systems, and decommunalisation of the police force.

UNI

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