The streets of the Indian cities had never been known to be safe havens for women, even if they are busy streets. Not a day passes when one does not hear a case of woman being raped and killed in India. Besides the society, these incidents speak volumes about the Lack of efficiency of State Police.
One may argue that society also has a role to play but my view is that the Law enforcement agency has a bigger role to play in this as it has failed to project itself as a Deterrent. There are incidents where the goons even pelted stones at the Police and chased them till the Police station and the Police could not even arrest them. The example of Palgarh is enough to tell us that Presence of Police is now no more a deterrence to the Goons.
Yesterday, while driving to my office through Ring road in Indore, I noticed a young poor girl being beaten and dragged by a Boy. As it was a One way road and there was traffic , I could not take an immediate turn so to confirm , I took a U Turn from the next Crossing. The Boy by then had dragged her to the service road, there were lots of people on the service road and as the girl was also not shouting for help, I thought of ringing up the Police control number 100.
And astonishingly, instead of confirming the location where the incident is taking place the Police control center asked me a stupid question ; under which Police thana does this location come, and where are you right now. I shouted back at the lady manning the Control Room, DO YOU EXPECT ME TO FIRST FIND OUT UNDERWHICH THANA THIS AREA FALLS? Realising that the help is not likely to come soon, I parked my car and sprinted but by then the Boy had disappeared in the narrow bylanes and the Police did not turn up even after waiting for half an hour.
If such stupid questions can be asked and such lethargic reaction of Police is on display in Indore then imagine what would be happening in rural areas, small towns or when you contact Police control while travelling on the Highway.
No wonder we have botched up cases like Arushi murder case, people being murdered and girls being dragged and molested in broad day light.
Have n’t been committees formed to reform the Police? The answer is numerous committees been formed and their recommendations are rotting in the shelves. Haven’t been Police Constables and Officers been suspended for dereliction of duties? Yes they have been, but, most of them, have been reinstated after serving a suspension and are not sent home and do not get surprised, some of them might have been even promoted.
Its High time that the Govts take this issue of Police reforms seriously otherwise we will unnecessarily be losing lives and innocent girls being tormented on Indian streets.
I am surprised WHY POLICE REFORMS ARE NOT BECOMING AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE as CAA or NRC or Farm laws have become.