Secular police - The Pioneer
Syed Shahabuddin
()
3 September 1996
Title : Secular police
Author : Syed Shahabuddin
Publication : The Pioneer
Date : September 3, 1996
I am surprised to the West Bengal Home Minister's
prescription for secularising the police force. He should
make a clear distinction between the work place and
living quarters. Please of worship should be permitted in
police barracks and police lines, but not in police
stations. In fact, even religious icons should have no
place in the office of a secular Government, though they
are present everywhere, perhaps even in Writer's
Building, staring at you in the offices and even inside
elevators, from the tables and walls!
What is far more important for the promotion of secular
ethos in the police force - and that goes for all
security forces - is its multi - religious composition.
Only a composite force will be truly secular; a
mono-religious force will always be communal, even in
normal times, and certainly in situation of crisis.
Similarly, a police force largely composed of one or two
dominant caste groups will not be effective in situations
of caste conflicts.
I would, therefore, advise the Minister not to ban Durga
Puja but rather shift the venue to the police lines and
to recruit policemen from all religious, caste and tribal
backgrounds. If this is done, the police force would
represent the true social demography of the State.
