Surat cops at the receiving end

SURAT, June 2: June 1: Two unarmed traffic branch policemen were fisted by a group of Maachhiwaad youth at Makkai Pool. They attempted to...

SURAT, June 2:

June 1: Two unarmed traffic branch policemen were fisted by a group of Maachhiwaad youth at Makkai Pool. They attempted to tow away their wrongly parked bikes.

May 16: Two policemen attached to the Sachin police station were stabbed after they chased and intercepted a gang of robbers, who then fled.
April 22: At least two policemen were injured in stone pelting by agitating rickshaw drivers during their stir recently.
December 98: Two SRP constables were hit with sticks by two youth at Nanpura Market when they stepped in to prevent them from harassing a woman vendor.
November 98: A Chowk Bazaar police sub-inspector was hit below the abdomen by a cricket ball sized stone while controlling a group of labourers who went on the rampage in Ved Road.

Despite the city police claiming to have raised policing to a higher level in the first six months of the year, and although concerted efforts are being made to portray a more people-friendly police force, there have been attacks on policemen, which seem to be a pointer that the force commands scant respect among the people.

And while top police officials deny that stray incidents are any indication of the reality, the lower rung policemen fully agree that people have, over the years, overcome fear of the police to the point that they now even assault them. Terming this trend unfortunate, the cops admit that something has to be done for the force8217;s image.

Recent incidents have not done the department8217;s image any good either. Two sub-inspectors of the Katargam police station were suspended after being caught by the Anti-Corruption Branch for taking bribes on May 16, a PSI, losing mental control opened fire on civilians on May 3, a constable shot dead a murder accused and an advocate in mid-April and at least half-a-dozen policemen have been suspended since January after being found drunk while on duty.

8220;I just asked the youth politely to either pay fines or the vehicles would be towed away and they attacked us without provocation,8221; said Vijay Shripat Kachure, who received injuries in yesterday8217;s attack by Maachhiwaad youth on the traffic branch cops. When asked why people do not fear the police and the law, a police sub-inspector said that the police image had taken a beating primarily because of the actions of the cops themselves.

8220;To be frank, the police image is not all that good among the people. It is unfortunate, but it is the case everywhere, not just here,8221; he said not wanting to be identified. In fact, the first reaction that a police officer blurted out when asked for more information about the case, was 8220;the chaps might have gone there to collect haftas.8221;

Police officials however claim that the situation is improving, and that yoga, physical exercises and beat patrolling had been introduced into the force. But it was evident from the statement of police commissioner Kuldip Sharma on his first day in office in the last week of December 1998 that all was not well within the department. He had said then 8211; 8220;Let me put the house in order and then results will show.8221;