The anguish in the tone was unmistakable when DGP S Bimalchandra said that continuous briefings have failed to have the desired results and the lower ranking police and IRB personnel continue to misbehave while on duty and hence the only thing left for the Police Department is to dismiss such recalcitrant personnel without much ado. The DGP said this during an impromptu meeting with media persons at the official residence of the Chief Minister in the early hours (about 1 am to be precise) of January 19 following the severe assault of a senior reporter of State vernacular daily Matamgi Yakairol by IRB personnel.
No doubt, the media persons gathered at the meeting were thankful to the police chief for the prompt and positive response to their grievances, but deep down we cannot help but take note of the tragic ring that surrounds the whole issue. Tragic in the sense that despite repeated briefings and instructions, the men in uniform continue to misbehave and unnecessarily harass and even assault civilians. This is not just a matter of a reporter being assaulted or for that matter the pride of the journalistic fraternity being hurt but reflects the overall lack of discipline and utter disrespect for the rule of law amongst the lower ranked personnel and this is what we find very disturbing.
The reporter was on his way home after duty when he was stopped by the IRB personnel near Loklaobung. Despite the fact that the reporter in question produced his press identity card and the curfew pass issued by no less an authority than the District Magistrate, he was kicked, punched and butted. A broken nose and blows all over his body testified the severity of the assault.
As assured by the DGP, the personnel involved in the ugly incident have been placed under suspension and the question of dismissing them from service is a distinct possibility in the face of the standing assurance given by the police chief in the presence of the Chief Minister. But the question that looms ahead is, should this be the be all and end all of the matter at hand or is there more to it.
It is a sad commentary that IRB personnel who got into the service have to be placed under suspension and even face the prospect of being dismissed after undergoing all those fitness tests and other recruitment examinations just because they do not realize the responsibilities that come along with wearing the uniform and wielding the arms issued to them.
In many ways what happened at Loklaobung is a reflection of the overall lack of discipline and respect for the individual human being among the rank and file of the armed personnel. On January 18 it was a reporter who had to face the wrath of some IRB personnel and tomorrow it can be anyone. We have repeatedly said in this column that the Police Department need to go the extra mile to undo the image it has created itself over the years and though we are happy to note that some positive signs have been seen among the higher ranked officers, the same is yet to catch on among the jawans, riflemen and constables.
It is not only a question of pulling up and punishing the errant IRB men involved in the Loklaobung incident, but should also serve as the eye opener to the police top brass that a lot needs to be done to instill discipline amongst the lower ranked personnel. It is a tragedy that an officer of the rank of the DGP has to admit that repeated briefings have failed to discipline the rank and file of the personnel. Where is the missing link?
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