Police and public

Sir,

The occurrence of crimes like murder, rapes, arsons, bomb-blasts and carnage in country is gradually eroding the faith of public. They wonder if their life and property is secure in the existing set-up. Regular occurrences naturally induce cynicism and people come to feel that nothing can be done to improve the situation. The kind of presumption is pernicious and augurs ill for the police with bomb-blasts staring us daily in the face, there is a kind of resigned acceptance of the situation. The response from the Government and the Police Department is equally stereotyped. The usual reaction is that vigorous efforts have been made to trace the accused persons. After sometime the so called efforts are forgotten till the next occurrence of the same heinous crime. The main reason is the lack of professionalism. The Police Officers should never be overawed by the status of the person involved in the crime. The present position is that the smaller the criminal, the harsher the police treatment and greater the punishment. In case of moneyed criminals, a different yardstrick is followed. In the case of more powerful moneyed offenders, you can even have a jail with five star facilities. The police obviously is not a favourite of the public. By the very nature of their duties they perform, they cannot expect to receive general acclamation.

Another type of response to any serious crime is the setting up of some Committee or Commission to look into the incidents. Then all is forgotten. The next incident means the next Committee and some more jobs for retired bureaucrats. How long shall be continue with the knee-jerk approach. The only way the problems of riots or bomb-blasts or heinous crimes can be solved is that the agencies charged with the duties of collecting information should be precise and clear in their reports. Emphasis should be given in making local police station responsible for the collection of all intelligence in the area. What a local SHO (Station House Officer) does not know is not worth knowing. More importantly the posting of chiefs should be depoliticized so that they don't have to waste time in cultivating politicians and senior bureaucrats just for retaining their jobs.

Yours etc.
Kuldip Sadhu
Kamal Nagar Karan Road Bantalab

Negotiations with Naxalites

Sir,

This has reference to the article 'Negotiations with Naxalites' published in the Daily Excelsior on Oct 8.

The former Homer Minister L K Advani has strongly opposed the Andhra Pradesh Government's move to have negotiations with naxalities. Mr. Advani though fully aware of the problem, seems to be a little bit harsh. His reservations may be genuine, but there is no wrong in holding talks with the nexals. If the Government of India is holding talks with rebel Naga leaders, offering unconditional talks with the militants in Kashmir, Bodos, Minipuris, then what is wrong in holding talks with naxalites. It is a proven fact that peace can be best ensured through dialogue only and not by wielding force.

Therefore before summarily rejecting any move, let us wait and watch, what will be the outcome of the talks.

Yours etc...
Vipul Kumar
Janipur