Why not a U-turn for policing, Mr PM and Mr PC?

Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), July 29 (ANI): Jehadi terrorist groups are actively and incessantly bleeding India to destabilize it by shattering the country's economy and shaking the morale of its people.

Their unchallenged determination raises a few fundamental questions: - Is India's security in the right hands? ii) Should the security of the citizens be compromised just because we are a democracy with a partial federal structure where the government is liable for everything without accountability?iii) Who should be accountable? What is the way out?

Besides the attacks by jihadi groups, the Maoists, described as the greatest threat to the nation's security by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, continue attacking and killing civilians and security personnel. The blame game between the Centre and the victimized state government surfaces for some time before being forgotten.

There should be a symptomatic treatment of the disease. Terrorism or Maoism is the crux of the problem. After every attack, central forces are dispatched, combing operations launched, deceased are buried , compensation announced, condolences from nation's 'Who's Who' pour in, an inquiry instituted - the usual actions for khanapurti. How long should we continue with this archaic system?

The Centre announces one move after another - modernization of state police forces, special force to combat Maoists, deployment of the Army, use of helicopter for aerial reconnaissance, etc, which clearly indicates a directionless and confused attempt to tackle a cancerous problem.

Interestingly, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) headed by a dynamic minister, P Chidambaram, reportedly has many as 45 joint and two additional secretaries (all IAS officers, almost none having ground knowledge of policing, equipments, strategic experience, etc).

The same is the case in all states - not a single right person in the right place - and they are the policy and decision makers.

New Delhi sanctions funds for police modernization usually at the fag end of the year and at the state level, according to a survey, the file moves to and fro touching 26 tables for final fund release with the political bosses and the babus having the final say.

How can time and quality be maintained when the top cops have to respond in writing to numerous queries from ignorant aristocrat babus on why a weapon is essential, why a particular make is needed, why so much quantity is required, etc. The process for tendering begins and its related problems follow as part of the longest official channel without any consideration for security.

Even three years after the colossal loss of over Rs 500 crore and death of 167 people, including Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare in the 26/11 (26-11-08) terrorist attacks in Mumbai, no weapons worth the name have been provided to the Mumbai police, according to ATS sources.

The nation's security and integrity is in the central list while law and order is in the state list of the Constitution. Thus, any security problem by a terror strike, including by the Maoists in any state, is its problem.

The nation has been witness to Centre-state mudslinging after Maoists strikes in Chhattisgarh, Orissa and West Bengal.

Why not an institutional mechanism with trained manpower, the required wherewithal and desired command control backed by a nationwide intelligence collection bureau, research and development wing to tackle such menace that threatens India's internal security?

Why not to redefine the concept of security and law and order, and, if required, amend the Constitution?

An educationist, has however, said India is a vast country with 121 crore population spread in 28 states and 6 UTs, and bringing everything under a central control is next to impossible in a democratic setup. Every state has to have its own vision and seek New Delhi's all-out support to tackle such problems.

The need of the hour is to de-politicize the police and security forces. Five IPS officers being arrested in Sohrabuddin fake encounter case and an Army chief involved in land scam indicate that "we have forgotten that we are born naked and die naked.

The 'I', 'You' and 'We' led corruption is making Indians poorer of human values. An attitudinal change with moral values is equally necessary," he said, adding, "Those who matter, right from babus to netas, are also Indians."

Disputing him, another academician quipped: "This is the common feeling of Indians who do not find platforms to express. Let this message reach the highest authority of the nation," she reasoned.

Before such a mechanism with constitutional support, New Delhi could procure all weapons centrally and distribute to the states to ensure quality, rate and avoid loss of time, and ask the states to provide refresher training to all cadres of police personnel, preferably in a central police organization.

A top ranking police officer, however, said that a National Investigative Agency has been set up, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act amended, the Coastal Security Scheme provided with additional fund of Rs 1100 crore and a National Counter-Terrorism Centre (United States government has such an organization responsible for national and international counterterrorism efforts), is also in the offing.

Undoubtedly, all these measures would give stronger teeth to the administrative machinery. But who would provide the will to bite, he wondered?

Interestingly, despite reported red-tapism, about 115 senior police officers for the first time were sent recently to Cambridge University for highly advanced training in all aspects of policing.

Will the training go in vain or would these officers be placed in right positions in the nation's interest? The Prime Minister had given the go-ahead signal at the initiative of Chidambaram for the training, and both deserve appreciation for their wisdom.

It is high time India made a radical change to give police the much required teeth to ensure the security of the masses. Will Mr PM and MR PC rise to the occasion? By Pradeep Kumar(ANI)

Attn: News Editors/News Desks: The views expressed in the above article are that of Mr. Pradeep Kumar, Editor-in-Chief of the Itanagar-based daily Arunachal Front.