Bakhabar, April, 2013 - Bihar Anjuman

The role of Indian policeAbout 17 years ago a book on communal riots and Indian policewas published in English, Hindi and Urdu and was well receivedin earnest circles. Its author was Vibhuti Narain Rai, a seniorofficer of Indian Police Services. After a long research of oneyear, he, in the light of ground realities and authenticinformation, brought to the notice of the nation theirresponsible behaviour of Indian police and its heinous role inriots. But in fact this was not a book rather a research documentwhich he had put before the police establishment for seriousconsideration so that police behaviour might be reformed in itslight. But the police system totally neglected it. Therefore, Mr.Rai had to get his precious and extraordinary research workIt’s not about police aloneThe question here is why after all is this character of the policeof Indian State? Teesta has confined her analysis to thisquestion. But the area of the question should be wider. Is thereall well with other departments of the State? Now this questiontakes us to the formation of independent India. The situationrelates to a mentality which was created before theindependence. It was this mentality that created the situationfor partition and all the responsibility of partition was thrownon the shoulders of Muslims. A part of the land with Muslimconcentration areas was separated in the name of Pakistan.Then a well-thought-out unwritten policy was adopted for theMuslims opting to remain in Independent India. According tothe declaration, though the Constitution of the land remainsdemocratic and secular, in which all citizens hold equal status,there is respect for all religious entities; however the groundreality is quite different. A particular mentality was granted fullindependence and all facilities to create hatred againstreligious entities and prepare lots of biased governmentworkers with the help of its private educational institutions,literature and organised groups. Today it is that mentalitywhich is at work. The question is not about policeestablishment only; it is about the behaviour of the State.Therefore, people like Teesta Setalvad and Vibhuti Naraian Raishould concentrate on this very basic question.published in book form. Renowned and active human rights [ S o u r c e : k h a b a r - O - N a z a r b y P a r w a a z R a h m a n i ,activist Teesta Setalvad has mentioned it in her recent analysis sehrozaDAWAT, translated by: Abu Yusuf](The Hindu, 20 February). The article was written in the context http://dawatonline.blogspot.com/of the recent riots in Dhule (Maharashtra) which was in factone-sided police action against Muslims. The scenes of thispolice barbarity were well captured in mobile cameras but themedia did not pay any importance to them.After publication of the interviewThereafter Teesta Setalvad questioned the entire policestructure and its system and said that she had done a longinterview with Vibhuti Narain Rai in 1995 which was publishedin about 30 publications. In the interview, Mr. Rai, in the light ofhis experiences and observations, further highlighted the roleof Indian police, according to which the rioters belonging to themajority community take the police as their protector andfriend during the riots. Teesta has written that after thepublication of Mr Rai’s book and her interview with him thegovernment and the police department did not take notice ofit; however responsible citizens and some senior securityofficers, including the founder and former head of BorderSecurity Force KF Rustomji and DIG Padma Rosha, turnedtowards it. Expressing concern over this situation, he hademphasised that the police department should take stock ofthe serious issue of communalism and casteism and takeimmediate corrective measures otherwise this situation ofcommunal conflict among the various sections of society willtake a serious turn. In her article, Teesta has also severelycriticised the priorities of TV channels.Bakhabar13