HYDERABAD, Aug 12: The Andhra Pradesh police has decided to get psychiatrists to probe why law enforcers turn monsters, in the face of growing instances of cops going berserk and sometimes even taking recourse to revolt against received orders.While outwardly dismissing the possibility of a set pattern in unruly behaviour by policemen, senior officials admit that the issues have had to be viewed seriously so as to get to the bottom of the matter.The decision to avail of the services of psychiatrists was taken after policemen went on a rampage in Karimnagar town, following the transfer of the superintendent of police. ``It is an emotional issue for some policemen. They may develop respect and admiration for an officer and get emotionally attached,'' a senior officer says. Especially in a Naxalite-infested district like Karimnagar, where a policemen's life is under constant threat, ``a superior who has been very good to them is transferred, it is unsettling,'' he explains.Of late, the image of thepolice has taken a severe beating with their involvement in cases of rape, murder and violence. In Mahboobnagar district, policemen kidnapped and raped a woman Naxalite. She was hounded even in the state capital and her husband, also a surrendered Naxalite, was kidnapped and murdered. His head was severed and only his body was found. The killing is attributed to the police.``We have realised that something needs to be done to change the mindset of the personnel,'' a senior officer admits. ``But we have to realise that we are dealing with human beings who often do not get public cooperation,'' he said.``There is no cause for alarm as there are no chances of a revolt. The issues cannot be connected,'' asserts Director-General of Police H J Dora.One of the reasons given by officials is that with the entry of academically qualified men there is a growing trend of disenchantment with the usual rough and ready ``police behaviour''.The same reason is attributed to the other trend of growing impatienceagainst too much political interference in even routine police functioning. Though of course those in power deny this. Close aides of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu assert that the CM is against interfering too much with police functioning. It is only when there is a genuine case that he would like ministers or others to intervene, they said.The fact, however, remains that much needs to be done to refurbish the image of the police.
