Against the backdrop of the shocking Sangli incident wherein five policemen blatantly colluded with each other to destroy the body of a suspect who died in the custody during interrogation, former Director General of Police Meeran Chadha Borwankar reflects and analyses the reasons behind these cases and suggests what needs to be done to bring back the force on track.
Death in custody in Sangli, a similar custodial death in Himachal Pradesh, suspension of officers, the arrest of a senior officer of IG rank, botched up investigation of Aarushi and Pradyuman murders. The list is long. The issue is further compounded by the reluctance of police to register cases, their tendency to keep citizens waiting for hours, their insensitivity to problems of women, their curt, rude behavior and corruption at all levels.
Separate investigation from law enforcement
But instead of talking about weaknesses of law enforcement, I would rather show some ways out of this mess. First, we must separate law and order and crime investigation. For this, we need to have more police personnel and fill about 23 per cent vacancies existing across the states. This will allow officers to devote time to carry out an investigation as against the current system where they are juggling between bandobasts unable to concentrate on issues of crime, its prevention and detection. Moreover, Central police forces cannot do the duties of the police. So increasing their strength is no answer to improving police-citizens ratio.
Law and order issues prove costly for politicians
Politicians need to understand that they win or lose an election on the basis of their performance on law and order and crime fronts. ‘Nirbhaya’ episode played a definite role in the downfall of UPA II. Same was repeated in UP and I can see that Haryana will pay a heavy price in future elections. Police leadership must repeatedly flag this issue to political leadership. Media too can play a definite and positive role in highlighting the need for more recruitment, filling up of the existing vacancies and separation of crime and law and order duties of the police.
Modernisation will serve as force multiplier
Modernising police will act as the force multiplier and improve police response time and the quality of response. UP 100, state-level technically advanced police control room is a very relevant example worth emulating by other states. More funds for equipment and regular interaction with IITs and DRDO will keep police officers abreast of latest developments in technology. Here, I would also flag the urgent need to modernise our forensic laboratories too. Days of convictions on the basis of oral evidence of witnesses are over now. The long pendency of samples in our labs shows the need to recruit more forensic experts, especially for a cybercrime where the situation is alarming.
One up manship; inflated conviction rate
Some states are showing improved conviction rate by including minor penalties like fine for traffic/ other minor offences as ‘convictions’. Whom are we trying to fool? I am not underestimating the importance of traffic-related fines but to put them in the same category as session triable cases is nothing but a panic response to public criticism of falling rate of convicting the criminals. Regular training of police officers and public prosecutors is, of course, essential to prevent, detect and convict.
Frequent training modules are the need of the hour
Generally, a police officer gets about two refresher courses each in their whole careers. Same is the case with other government departments too. Online training as has been started by Maharashtra police is an economical and powerful tool to bridge the knowledge gap between investigators. CDAC too provides the very useful portal for online training so that officers do not have to leave their headquarters. E-class rooms for updating the knowledge and skills of police officers need to be pursued vigorously.
Refresher course for all segments of criminal justice needed
I would also advocate refresher courses of all segments of criminal justice system together. We tried it at YASHADA Pune, about a year back. Judiciary was initially reluctant but intervention by senior officers led to their participation too.
Police, Forensic experts, prosecutors, doctors, jail officials had been enthusiastic. Many doubts and coordination issues could be sorted out. The government of India brings all civil services together under the umbrella of ‘Foundation Courses’ with the objective of cultivating collaborative atmosphere. Coordination among police, prosecutors, magistrates, judges, medical officers and jail officials at state level will definitely improve their individual and collective performance.
Support from judiciary needed to punish criminals
No one expects judges or magistrates to get ‘influenced’ by the prosecution, but it is a time they understand the point of view of other agencies. I studied the criminal justice system of the USA for a year. The informal and yet highly professional attitude of judicial officers was most surprising and refreshing. Their disposal is brisk with very low pendency in courts. In our case, we have more frills and formalities with snail pace disposal of cases. Thus a choked court system. More judicial officers, support staff will help police in getting the criminals punished and innocents released.
In healthy society, girls and women feel safe
The health of a civil society can be measured by how safe its citizens especially girls and women feel. We are very low in this index. Ill-trained private guards are flourishing, girls are forbidden to remain out after sunset; all these are signs of a society that is in the constant state of fear and uncertainty. It, of course, lowers our output in offices and homes. Economic health is thus adversely affected and individual creativity suffocated.
A nationwide victim survey if conducted biannually as recommended by the Bureau of Police Research and Development will systematically measure the perception of citizens about safety and police response to crime. This can help police to strategise and make better use of its limited resources. The need to involve citizens in policing cannot be overstated especially women, youths, senior citizens, marginalised sections of society. The police must create formal and informal channels to harness their positive energy.
Effective Anti-Corruption Department needed
There is the need for a strong and effective vigilance/anti-corruption department. A weak, toothless and headless anti-corruption bureau is a grave disservice to society. Corrupt in all departments become bold and honesty becomes only a ‘jumla’. No wonder while ordinary citizens wait outside all government departments for hours to get a hearing, the rich and powerful have their way. Police stations are no exception.
Force is working under pressure from public and media
If Gurgaon murder was wrongly detected and if citizens are dying in custody, it is a police force working under tremendous stress. Officers are looking for shortcuts. Media and public glare, constant criticism are leading them to use unprofessional methods. They are not bad people, they are non-professionals doing highly sensitive and professional jobs under the time constraint and public glare. Some of them vying for quick rewards and publicity.
Sober investigators are missing
I am missing the sober police officer who taught me to sit for hours either interrogating or documenting a crime. Those days officers within the department were respected for their ‘baithak’, sincerity and simple living and not for their medals and contacts.We can not put the clock back, but we can definitely strengthen police with more resources, staff, and training. We can improve coordination of wings of criminal justice system and also recruit more. In a democracy, the state takes up the responsibility of the safety and security of its citizens, not private guards or agencies. If we do not act now to make our citizens, girls, women, children, safe and strengthen our vigilance mechanism, we are heading to be a failed state. It is not too late. Wake up India!
