PR in the net

Initiated in February by the Vadodara Commissioner of Police, P C Thakur, these matches do more than improve police-public relations. Explains Thakur, “these matches are a welcome breather for the city’s policemen, who have been perpetually involved in gruelling bandobasts since this year began.” While mohalla meetings between two communities are becoming common, more so in riot prone or communally sensitive areas, a sporty spin off has been added by Vadodara police, the first ever in Gujarat, with the added participation of police teams as well.

But a question on everyone’s minds is why volley ball and not cricket? “It requires no infrastructure or special practice. Also most youth play the game,” answers Thakur.

Every Sunday, matches are held between a police station squad and civilian teams from the area under that police station’s purview. The police team play as many as five matches a day. City police inspector D M Waghela who is on one of these teams says, “we go into the mohallas and tell people to form teams. They in turn try and rally friends and relatives for the matches.” Waghela adds that the matches are an excellent way to get close to the public. “Also, we meet more people who we can call in for support and information during tense times,” he points out.

Says Asif Khan, another player from the Fatehpura team, “During the riots, we were scared of the police, but while playing these matches, all we want to do is win.”

Interaction with the police, says Asif, is not restricted to playing time. “Before and after the match, we talk to the policemen like friends,” he adds.

The matches start sharp at 4 pm on Sundays and extend up to 7 pm.This is not the first time in Gujarat that a sport has been used to foster communal harmony. Earlier sporting celebrities had descended on Halol in Panchmahals district after the post-Godhra riots, where a series of matches were organised between team comprising members of both communities. Organised by local NGOs, the event couldn’t sustain.

In Vadodara, the idea has achieved moderate success so far, but its popularity is only rising. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police A V Vasava, it’s helping bridge the communal divide. “Nobody is really bothered which community another player belongs to or whether he is from the police. More and more players want to join in now,” he says.