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The mind of a cop -- II
Police are mere tools
 Some decades ago, top police officers acted with courage in refusing to take action in cases where there would be legal violations. While appreciating those officers, we must also remind ourselves of the fact that in those days, the politicians also respected their decisions and never punished the officers for failure to comply with their instructions.
However, the standard of politicians has deteriorated over the last three decades. With the result, officers who did not comply with the illegal orders, are punished and their careers ruined by these politicians.
Many senior police officers, coerced by the arrogant behaviour of the politicians, succumb to their pressure and involve themselves in illegal acts merely to be in the good books of the politicians.
During the previous DMK regime, two IPS officers were sent to jail on petty issues. The entire department knew that they were honest officers but still they were sent to prison. During the present AIADMK regime, a senior IPS officer in the rank of ADGP, who held important positions during the previous DMK rule, was posted to a refugee camp where an ordinary head constable was normally in charge. A bank manager, if the management so wishes, can be posted as a manager in any of the branches, even at a distant centre. But can a bank manager be posted at a centre instead of a peon? The ADGP found that there was no car, no chair and no table in the camp and was languishing there for nearly a year.
The seniormost among DGPs should be posted as DGP, Law and Order, and the seniormost among the ADGPs should be posted as the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, as these are highly coveted posts. However, the politicians make their own choice according to their whims and fancies, and post a junior DGP or ADGP to these posts. Sometimes, even junior IGs are posted as city police commissioners. Since the 'remote control' is in the hands of the ruling parties, the junior officers succumb to their pressure and carry out illegal acts to please them. They ultimately bring disrepute to the department.
None of the top-level officers go to the spot to arrest the VIPs. It is usually the lot of the second and third-rung officers to carry out such tasks and end up in controversies. Soimetimes, junior cops, whose activities are watched by senior officers during an operation, tend to indulge in excesses merely to get a favourable report from the seniors. Governments may come and go but this game-plan is used by politicians when they come to power and the policemen become victims of circumstances.
Thus, the policemen are just the arrows while the bow is in the hands of the politicians.
How is this situation to be remedied? The Police Department should be an autonomous body, free from the influence of politicians. Another way of preventing misuse is by having more politicians with character and principles. It is not easy to get such politicians but the people can do it by supporting good politicians.
Otherwise, more such episodes as in the case of 'The Hindu' would be enacted.
Harvey
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