Police
We tend to become less objective at times on weighty issues especially on our jobs. On several occasions, we do not stand up to our bosses in order to be on the right side of things. This is true in most spheres of life. So it is difficult to point fingers at others for keeping quiet or looking the other way when serious issues crop up in their career. But nevertheless I am going to do that.
A news item couple of days back caught my eye. Anju Gupta IPS 1990 batch has made a long statement about the events she saw in close quarters as the Personal Security Officer of L K Advani on the fateful day at Ayodhaya on December 6, 1992 when the Babri Masjid was demolished in a "spontaneous outburst of fury" by the large mob which had gathered at the site. One of the people giving company to the leaders of BJP and its associate organisations out of his political conviction was the retired Director General of Police. There were several IAS and IPS officers around the vicinity of Babri Masjid on that fateful day but none of them have come forward to dispose to investigating authorities. To take a charitable view, they have chosen to play safe. Anju Gupta alone has gone on record with her statement but then she is being pilloried for having married a person from another religion thereby implying that she made the statements due to influence from outsiders and her statements lacked objectivity.
A similar situation prevails in the Godhra tragedy investigation in Gujarat. The only officer who has gone on record with his statement on the riots is Srikumar, IPS who was Inspector General of Police then.The investigation into Mumbai bomb blasts in 1993 which was followed by riots also did not find civil servants making statements to investigating agencies.
One of the classic cases I remember on this score is the Rajan case during Emergency period in 1975-77 in Kerala. Rajan was a student at Regional Engineering College , Kozhikode and was picked up for being a communist sympathiser. Police picked him from the hostel and he has not been traced since. Subsequent investigation showed that he was tortured and died in the hands of the police. His body was dumped into a reservoir at a dam site and was never retrieved though navy divers were sent to the site ( of course after Emergency period ).
The Inspector General of Police , Jayarama Padikkal and SP, Madhusudan Das submitted statements admitting their role in the whole episode. But when the case came up for hearing in the courts, both retracted their position stating that their statements were obtained from them under duress and they had said they had no role to play at all ! Jayaram Padikkal had undergone special training at Scotland yard before Emergency period. My dad had a strong view ( and I also have a similar view ) on these police officers. Such police officers who can not stand up pressure should be dismissed from service. Who needs spineless and weak hearted Police Officers ? Jayaram padikkal went on to become Director General of Police, Kerala ! What a pity. A spineless officer becoming the state's top law enforcement official and also protector of public !
Several investigations like those probing Sohrab murder case are also facing problems of accused police officers changing their statements very often stating that their earlier statements were made under duress.
At times I feel that God alone can save our country !
A news item couple of days back caught my eye. Anju Gupta IPS 1990 batch has made a long statement about the events she saw in close quarters as the Personal Security Officer of L K Advani on the fateful day at Ayodhaya on December 6, 1992 when the Babri Masjid was demolished in a "spontaneous outburst of fury" by the large mob which had gathered at the site. One of the people giving company to the leaders of BJP and its associate organisations out of his political conviction was the retired Director General of Police. There were several IAS and IPS officers around the vicinity of Babri Masjid on that fateful day but none of them have come forward to dispose to investigating authorities. To take a charitable view, they have chosen to play safe. Anju Gupta alone has gone on record with her statement but then she is being pilloried for having married a person from another religion thereby implying that she made the statements due to influence from outsiders and her statements lacked objectivity.
A similar situation prevails in the Godhra tragedy investigation in Gujarat. The only officer who has gone on record with his statement on the riots is Srikumar, IPS who was Inspector General of Police then.The investigation into Mumbai bomb blasts in 1993 which was followed by riots also did not find civil servants making statements to investigating agencies.
One of the classic cases I remember on this score is the Rajan case during Emergency period in 1975-77 in Kerala. Rajan was a student at Regional Engineering College , Kozhikode and was picked up for being a communist sympathiser. Police picked him from the hostel and he has not been traced since. Subsequent investigation showed that he was tortured and died in the hands of the police. His body was dumped into a reservoir at a dam site and was never retrieved though navy divers were sent to the site ( of course after Emergency period ).
The Inspector General of Police , Jayarama Padikkal and SP, Madhusudan Das submitted statements admitting their role in the whole episode. But when the case came up for hearing in the courts, both retracted their position stating that their statements were obtained from them under duress and they had said they had no role to play at all ! Jayaram Padikkal had undergone special training at Scotland yard before Emergency period. My dad had a strong view ( and I also have a similar view ) on these police officers. Such police officers who can not stand up pressure should be dismissed from service. Who needs spineless and weak hearted Police Officers ? Jayaram padikkal went on to become Director General of Police, Kerala ! What a pity. A spineless officer becoming the state's top law enforcement official and also protector of public !
Several investigations like those probing Sohrab murder case are also facing problems of accused police officers changing their statements very often stating that their earlier statements were made under duress.
At times I feel that God alone can save our country !
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