Clean force makes all the difference

The sight of a khaki uniform inevitably triggers fear and anxiety in most people and Bengalureans are no exception. There are many of us who have been quick to shell out a few hundred rupees paying the price for daring to venture out for whatever reason in the middle of the night; few dare to pose questions to the cops on why he or she is being stopped and grilled and would prefer the easy way out by coughing up whatever is demanded and quietly vanishing from the scene.

But there are brave souls- like the couple in Koramangala who made sure their midnight ordeal at the hands of cops went viral forcing top guns of the police force to suspend two policemen involved in the incident. This after they were forced by the cops to shell out Rs 4000 as ‘penalty’ for taking a midnight stroll, that too through an online app.

More recently, personnel of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) have come under the scanner after an investigation into the raid conducted on a rave party in an apartment in Devanahalli. What necessitated a full-fledged probe was the ‘exclusion’ of the kin of some bizmen from the case to reportedly safeguard their interests. There are even allegations that some of the cops involved in the raid were paid huge sums of money by the accused to stop the filing of a case. When incidents like this hit the limelight, what takes a beating is the faith the common man has in the force which he still considers, the protector of his rights when they are at risk of being threatened.

An impartial force which refuses to bend to the lure of money or political influence is a rarity in a system where wads of cash could simply change the entire discourse. In an emerging democracy where human right violations are all too common, the only factor which prevents lawlessness from taking over is the presence of a strong police force committed to human values and the right to a dignified life. It’s when policemen send out a stern message that they will not brook any nonsense and will make sure the law applies equally to all-the high and mighty or the deprived –that public faith in the democratic system gets strengthened.

There will no doubt be a few black sheep in any organization but if the force as a whole sends out a message of trust and understanding, it will help a lot in bringing many more victims of dastardly crimes to the doors of the police station rather than keeping away out of sheer fear. The vulnerability to corrupt practices is evident in the police department as in other government offices where files do not move unless the ‘needful’ is done.

It could also be because of the huge amounts many policeman reportedly pay to get a foothold and a good posting in the force-there cannot be a more apt indicator of this malaise than the recent PSI scam. But in an age where there is an information blitz and social media has taken firm roots, can cops be so naïve as to demand a fine from people walking on the street?

The role of the police force anywhere in the world is to usher in a crime-free society and that can hardly happen if cops themselves are caught in the web of corrupt practices. Bengaluru’s top cops have rightly sent out a stern message by ensuring that the two cops who extorted money from the couple in Koramangala faced disciplinary action. More such steps will definitely ensure that Bengaluru police earn accolades as a clean and efficient force which will not be swayed by any quarter.