Look who is fighting:

January 30/2012: Many Oriyas are truly surprised by recent media reports that claim the Orissa Police Officers’ Association has dared to threaten the State Government on the issue of ‘dethroning’ AK Champatiray, the dismissed Inspector of Police at Pipli. The Association leaders and members have gone as far as saying their members would boycott forthcoming Panchayat election duties if government does not reconsider the action. In other words, take back into service the concerned officer and allow things to settle back into the usual rut. It is indeed a sign of the absolute rot that has settled into the State’s Police force. These officers threatening the government today must be having tacit support or approval of their seniors (read IPS) which has enabled them to go this far. All this is being done while the officers enjoy their perks and salaries snatched away from the tax payers’ money.

In a ‘civilized’ society, Police is viewed as the custodian of law and order. In today’s world, it is expected that the Police is not only meant to enforce order but also safeguard sanity in a society plagued by insanity at all levels. Take the Pipli incident as a case study. The culprits were admittedly protected by a powerful politician of the ruling party. The crime was brought to light through Court action. Until the Judiciary intervened, the usual machinery kept itself busy covering up the murky goings on and did not utter a single word to support the victim. On the other hand, it took all steps to suppress the victim and her kin from getting justice. Not for a day or two, this exercise continued for months and no one had a pinprick of conscience in the matter. Finally, when the dirt hit the fan and the going got tough, political action was the first to be implemented. The concerned politician was forced to resign from the ministerial post in the state cabinet and one by one the rapists were arrested. All that was fine up to that point. It is only when this newspaper started questioning the role of concerned Police officers and why no action was being taken against them that the dice turned.

Oriyas in-the-know would remember how a Chief Secretary and an IPS (SP ranked) officer were dismissed from service during the Emergency period (1975-76) for corruption and negligence of duty. Since then, all successive governments have been viewed as being subservient to the bureaucracy. This present government had also started earning a reputation of being totally and illogically favoring all wrong doings of bureaucrats. Its image got a slight make over when a senior officer, heading an industrial promotion outfit, was shunted off ignominiously after the killing of a volunteer goon in Jagatsingpur district. The excessive anti people activities of that particular officer showed what undue favors his ilk was bestowing on industrial adventurists all across the state. The reasons for adopting such extra constitutional activities are not hidden from anyone. Personal gains and filthy motives drive these people to take steps that, in reality, damage the very administration they represent. The Pipli incident could be likened to such a mindset. This peculiar mindset has overpowered all bureaucrats in Orissa.

The word ‘all’ is being used consciously although everyone is aware that there are many exceptions. No doubt, there are very good and honest officers too. Yet, like ‘one bad apple spoils the whole bunch’ song of the Jacksons Five, we never hear the voice of reason emanating from within the ranks. Take for instance the Police Association standing up for their beleaguered colleague who blatantly suppressed a most abhorred crime such as rape and forcible confinement. Putting the government under duress for its exemplary step, the cops have forgotten that there are the common people watching them too. Known as the ‘compromise’ masters, the Orissa Police and its officers are too well ensconced in their own world to realize what kind of distaste they generate amongst the public today. Always supporting the criminals, forcing the victimized to ‘compromise’, accepting FIRs from the scoundrels to protect them from the helpless and many such other acts have all contributed in creating an image of complete degeneration of this Police force.

Dream of a scenario where the Association, in an urgent meeting, would have supported the government action against the Pipli officer and vowed to root out anti women crimes from Oriya society. Going a step further, the office holders of the Association could have sent a circular to all members asking them to ensure that no matter how powerful or rich the culprit may be, crimes against women must be treated as top priority and action should be immediate and exemplary, as if the victim belongs to our family. This kind of a step would have given the negative perception about the Police a big bashing. People would have actually looked at the Force with a different viewpoint. Alas, that could never happen in Orissa. Misusing the democratic right to organize associations or unions, it has turned into a habit to use that weight to pressure government to accept unjustified demands.

This time, the demand is not only unjustified. It is a naked anti social act. A proper government caring for the people it governs must now contemplate taking stern action against the officers who have dared to raise such an issue to shield their co-worker. At the same time, these officers have admitted they themselves, most likely, get involved in similar situations and so are simply guarding their own backs. All this at the cost of being exposed as a Force that works against the safety of women.