The Police Chief

Body language of the Delhi Police Chief Bassi vindicates the impression of the professional thief the late Ghulam Qadir Reia about the Police officers that enter the Police cadre through competitive examinations. I asked him as to why he pleads his own cases and does not engage a competent lawyer to plead his cases in the court of law. He said that being part of the game of unlawful activity, he knew law better than the lawyer, a pass out from any law college. They know theory and he knew practical. He said that in the past a police officer used to rise through ranks. A police official used to join as a constable and retire as an Assistant Sub-Inspector. In the process he used to get well versed with the law. Even an innocent implicated by him in a false case would get sentenced. Today, a college pass out, memorises the curriculum for the competitive examination and joins the department as an IPS officer. Within a couple of years, with little practical training, they rise to the rank of the Police Chiefs. They are so naïve that if they catch the culprit red handed committing the crime, their charge sheet happens to be so faulty, that they get acquittal very easily. For their lucrative postings, favourable ACR and other benefits they act as caged parrot, rightly commented by the highest court of India. They compromise with the law and their conscience. Most of them have learnt the art of sycophancy to keep their immediate officer or the Government in power in good mood. Before his retirement the then DIG CID J&K, got his personal ambassador car dented painted and overhauled at the Police workshop, Jammu. All his junior sycophants of IPS and KPS cadres praised the new condition of the car to please their officer. One among them expressed his anguish for falling in line with his colleagues. Finally, he too went very close to the car at a distance of more than 500 metres, took a round of the car, joined the band of sycophants and said: “Sir, I can’t resist from speaking the truth. I believe the colour choice of the car is the choice of the ‘Begum Sahiba’. He praised the condition of the car and the begum Sahiba simultaneously to please the officer at the cost of his conscience, to earn favourable ACR. Unlike Bassi, D N Koul IPS, the then IGP J&K personally supervised and monitored the situation to save Ahmedia Masjid that was the target on the death of ZA Bhattu. DN Koul refused to oblige the then CM Sadiq Sahab, who had suggested for return of Parmeshwari to Pundits. He acted as per the law and not as per the dictation by the CM. Unfortunately, in 1990, J&K did not have an upright Police head. Unlawful orders of the then CM Farooq Abdullah were implemented in letter and spirit and the few militant captives were released to snowball their number and strength. 1964, the then Police Head of J&K, LD Thakur joined the mob on protest for recovery of the holy relic at Hazratbal. People lifted L D Thakur on their shoulders and among other slogans raised the slogan “L D Thakur zindabad”. Today we don’t have officers who could understand mob mentality and control the mob frenzy without any human loss. Instead of application of mind, they trust lathi, cane charge, teargas and the gun.