New Delhi: In an unprecedented protest, hundreds of policemen gathered outside the Delhi Police Headquarters at ITO wearing black bands to demonstrate against the “indifferent and apathetic attitude” of their senior officials towards their security and safety.
This is the first time that non-gazetted officers of the rank of inspector and above have gathered to vociferously speak out against their senior officers, with many even shouting slogans against Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik.
The protest was triggered by violence reported from Tis Hazari court Saturday and subsequent incidents of assault on police officers by lawyers at other city courts in Karkardooma and Saket.
The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the lawyers who assaulted the policemen at Tis Hazari and Saket courts, a stronger leadership and a union that could represent the force before the administration.
As Patnaik came to address the protesters, requesting them to return to work and let the law take its course, the protesting policemen — in uniform and plainclothes — jeered at him.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla Tuesday did not comment on the police protest but said that a judicial enquiry is on in the Tis Hazari clash.
‘No faith in the commissioner’
Most protesters told ThePrint that they are vulnerable to abuse but they have to show restraint. In some cases, they said, they have to take preventive action, but that too goes against them.
“We do not react unless it is an extreme situation. We have been trained like that. But in extreme cases when we take some action, the senior officers turn around to blame us. No one stands with us,” said Constable Meena, who did not want to reveal his full name.
“If we are abused, we should remain quiet. If we are beaten up, we should remain quiet. Are we as cops not entitled to any human rights?”
The personnel also said they demanded a stronger leadership — officers who would stand with them in times of trouble, instead of punishing them for something they have not done.
“We do not have any faith in this commissioner or his officers. Whenever we want them to hear us out, they refuse and ask us to return to work and perform. If your force on the ground is so disgruntled, how will they perform?” Meena said.
Another Constable, Vijay, who too did not want to reveal his full name, cited the example of the Mukherjee Nagar case in which six police personnel were suspended for allegedly manhandling a Sikh man who tried to attack them with a sword.
“In the Mukherjee Nagar case, the man was running behind policemen with a sword, that was not taken into consideration. What was seen was that he was being dragged by cops. What if a cop would have died on duty that day? No one cares about us.”
“If we take preventive action, we get suspended. If we do not take any action, then we are certainly suspended. We also then have to face a departmental inquiry. Where do we go?” asked Vijay.
Also read: Lawyer-Delhi Police row: is it tough to empathise with cops due to their poor image?
‘Top officials ignorant’
The protesting personnel also accused the top officers of being “ignorant” of their problems.
Calling themselves the “lifeline” and “foot soldiers” of the Delhi Police, the personnel said if they sit on protest and refuse to work, the crime situation in the capital will go haywire.
“The top officials do not care about the lower rung. We are the lifeline, the foot soldiers of the Delhi Police. It is high time they realise this. If we sit in protest, who will take care of the law and order situation in Delhi? It will go out of hand. These seniors sitting in their cozy offices will not be able to do anything,” Constable Ganga said.
“These senior officers just care about their postings, their money and their politics. They have nothing to do with thousands of policemen who die every day in the line of duty. Not even a single officer went to see the policeman who was injured in the Saturday incident. This shows their attitude,” he added.
He, however, said that the personnel sitting on protest are either on leave or are off duty hours.
“We also understand that even though we are not respected, our duty is very important. Today also if you make a PCR call, a policeman will take your call, register the case. Each personnel here are the ones who have either completed their night duty or the ones on leave,” he said.
‘The voiceless need a union’
Among the other demands of the personnel was a demand for a union, which they said is required to give them a “voice”.
“We are voiceless. We understand that as a part of the force we are supposed to be disciplined and not revolt or question, but this is getting out of hand now. We also have some rights. We need a union that can represent us before the senior officials and the government,” Constable Maneesha said.
“The police force that is supposed to protect is today asking for protection against assault. Something must have gone extremely wrong for us to have gathered here. Why can’t the senior officers understand this?”
Head Constable Ram Avtar, too stressed on the need for a union.
“It is our demand that a union be created and an office space given to that inside the police headquarters. There has to be a group that can take our demands, problems to the higher ups. Right now, there is a huge gap between us and the seniors. That needs to be bridged,” he said.
“If there is no union, we will remain voiceless, neglected and vulnerable to abuse, while senior officers enjoy their comfort in their offices.”
Also read: Congress questions Amit Shah’s silence on police taking to streets after clash with lawyers
No. There is definitely no need to keep quite when you are abused or assaulted. But please don’t suffer it when those abusing or assaulting you is more powerful than you but don’t get your frustration out on poor, ordinary citizens.
As the strong arm of law enforcement you are supposed to be equally conversant with the laws that lawyers can quote. Of course it is a different matter that what the judge accepts is left to his whims and fancies and there you are surely handicapped. But then are more ways to skin a cat, as an old proverb goes.
The policemen getting hammered the way they were in Delhi by Lawyers in the Court Premises is not a Good idea ….. This needs to be stemmed and soon !!!
Cont’d… Where is Amit Shah, of course no point, he would again say Dara theensow sattar which no one could do except Modi ?
What should poor ordinary people do if they get abused and beaten by police. What should they do if they extort hafta from street vendors. No one can clap with one hand, so both lawyers and police are two sides of same coin. What is surprising the policemen who was getting beaten was seen in sporty bike which ordinary salaried class guy cannot afford. So much about police job and pay.
This is funny.
Not withstanding who is right or wrong, if the public can thrash the police, why have we got a police force?
What are we spending money on such a huge organisation?
This is the most ridiculous situation I have heard of.
Now who is going to protect these overpaid fellows.
Send them out to face the Pakistanis on the western border and the Chinese on the northern border. They are just whingeing because someone made rape a crime in Delhi.