HVK Archives: Police becoming more politicised: Ribeiro
Police becoming more politicised: Ribeiro - The Times of India
Radha Basu
()
21 July 1997
Title: Police becoming more politicised: Ribeiro
Author: Radha Basu
Publication: The Times of India
Date: July 21, 1997
The recent death often Dalits in police firing at Ghatkopar has raised a
controversy regarding police handling of public protests. While the police
justify the opening of fire, civil liberties groups and several political
parties have criticised the police for allegedly being trigger-happy.
The Times of India contacted veteran policeman Julio F. Ribeiro, who bas a
vast experience in tackling the law and order situation in Mumbai and in
Punjab, for eliciting his views on the controversy. Sitting in his
sea-facing residence at Worli, the no-nonsense policeman fielded a number
of questions. Excerpts:
What is your reading of the Ghatkopar incident?
The Ghatkopar firing when seen in conjunction with the attack on Chhagan
Bhujbal's house raises questions about the professional competence of the
Mumbai police. The force appears to be becoming more politicised.
In one case there was a spontaneous outburst of anger from a section of
Dalits following the desecration of Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue. The
reaction of the police, which resulted in the death of ten Dalits, was not
just quick, but also more than what I feel is acceptable.
On the other hand, vandalism by a group of Shiv Sainiks at Mr Bhujbal's
house went unchallenged by the police. These two cases clearly show how
the police is becoming politicised.
Today, daily transgressions of the law by Shiv Sainiks are being ignored,
so much so that even police officers have become inured to this situation.
The police remained passive spectators during the Bhujbal episode because
they were afraid of incurring the wrath of the Sena leadership.
You mean the police are more prompt in acting against backward sections and
minorities ?
If the backwards and minorities were in power, I don't think the police
would act against them. But, we cannot allow people in power to tell the
police what they should do. According to the law, the police should use
minimum force in dispersing a violent mob. Whether minimum force was used
or not in Ghatkopar is open to debate.
The police claim the danger from LPG tankers parked nearby forced them to
open fire. Local people say this is just an excuse.
>From my experience in the police force, I know that once such an incident
has happened, we all look for defensive positions. The tankers could be a
defence thought up by the police after the initial damage was done.
But you must also consider what happens to a police officer once he goes to
a scene of rioting. It is not easy for him to remain calm. In Ghatkopar,
there was a very junior man a sub-inspector - not even from the local
police, but from the State Reserve Police (SRP).
But surely that does not absolve the police of killing ten persons. Aren't
the SRP specially trained to combat riot situations?
They are supposed to be bitter trained. According to policy, SRP personnel
are supposed to be sent back to their headquarters to get riot-control
training every year. But in reality, this does not happen since the local
police insist on retaining the SRP with them. The local police feel more
confident when the SRP is around.
I think the lack of training, coupled with the sub-conscious awareness that
they can act against a certain section of people - Dalits happen to be
among them - probably led the SRP to overreact in Ghatkopar.
There have been allegations that innocent bystanders were killed.
The police may panic, may overreact, but they will never go out of their
way to kill innocent bystanders. All those killed could not have been
innocent.
Do you think the police need to be made more accountable to the people?
Definitely. One way of doing this is by appointing state police
commissions which the National Police Commission has recommended. The
commissions are to be presided over by the home minister, and include the
leader of the opposition and 10-12 apolitical citizens such as retired
bureaucrats, police officers, educationists and social workers.
They will choose the director-general of police and commissioner. Now such
appointments are done by politicians in power who appoint only those they
know will sign on the dotted line whenever required. Only an independent
state commission can select those with integrity 'and competence. Now
political interference is total in the police force.
Do you feel a marriage of crime and politics has made Mumbai in the 1990s
witness a sudden cult of violence which is making private citizens fear for
their safety? The latest threat seems to be the rise of dreaded; gangster
Arun Gawli who is trying to don a mantle of respectability through politics.
Gawli is winning supporters through money power. In today's consumerist
society, the common man's urge for money has risen. Television has made it
possible for the 'have riots' to see how the 'haves' live. There are rich
people who commit economic crimes almost every day. But they go
unpunished. These persons spend money lavishly and their lifestyle is
shown on TV. The poor too want to acquire that lifestyle. Their means to
make quick money is through violent crime, through criminal gangs.
If we reduce white collar crimes, violent crimes will proportionately go down.
With the rise of the likes of Gawli, do you think the Shiv Sena is getting
a taste of Its own medicine?
Definitely, but there is a more significant aspect: Mr Bal Thackeray it
realising that there are others who can also shut down the city. His
authority is now openly being challenged. His followers are getting slowly
disillusioned.
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