CHANDIGARH – Despite people-friendly measures, such as a helpline for NRIs, women and children, there is a growing perception that the state police has been politicised and this has affected its functioning. The Women Armed Special Police Squad Scheme was launched by the government with much fanfare. But it failed to yield any significant results. The Police Department could not pay the huge fuel bill. Hence, the women constables had to do without their bikes and the scheme was as good as grounded.
Shortage of funds has affected basic policing too. The police executed a massive anti-drugs drive, placing more than 27,000 “drug peddlers” behind bars. But it failed to catch any big fish, inviting criticism. Sensational claims by druglord Jagdish Bhola, a former policeman, soiled the police image. Bhola alleged that he had enjoyed the patronage of influential politicians. The role of the police in the Nishan Singh case came as another embarrassment. More recently, the role of senior police officials in a land investment deal has rocked the people’s faith in the police.
Incidents of snatching and ATM theft are yet to be contained. The drive for online police records, inter-connectivity of police stations and availability of FIRs on the website has not been implemented uniformly.
Attacks on policemen have been on the rise. From 401 in 2011, their number rose to 427 in 2012, 452 in 2013 and 2,336 (till August 31) this year. The police crackdown on families owing allegiance to the Congress in Mann village, “victimisation” of Congress workers, death of a child during an agitation by teachers, the role of police officials in a rape case in Patiala, the murder of an ASI in Amritsar and the beating up of a woman in Tarn Taran were incidents that gave a bad name to the police.
The police busted several criminal gangs and shot dead gangster Gursewak Singh in Bathinda. Two undertrials, who escaped from police custody, were killed in an encounter near Bathinda.
Their third accomplice, however, escaped. Gangster Rajiv Raja managed to flee despite tight security. The police foiled several attempts to revive terrorism. It busted a module of pro-Khalistan organisation supported by the Pakistan-based Ranjit Singh Neeta group. Three members of the gang, including Pintu, were arrested
