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Policeman's lot

C. V. Aravind

THAT the arrest of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr M. Karunanidhi, and two Union Ministers, Mr Murasoli Maran and Mr T. R. Baalu has shown the Tamil Nadu Police in a bad light is putting it mildly. Viewing the video footage, the public felt disg ust at their brutal treatment of an elderly, ailing person. These images have been etched so vividly in the viewers' minds that it will be difficult to forget them for a long time.

While there are conflicting reports about the incident with the Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalithaa, and the police top brass endeavouring to defend their actions, the image of the constabulary has taken a severe beating. This incident reaffirms that the law -enforcers are but pawns in the hands of their political masters and are only too eager to carry out their bidding, however questionable it might be.

The Tamil Nadu Police, easily one of the best in the country when it comes to crime detection, is not alone in this respect. Elsewhere in the country, the police are used to settle political scores. Often, therefore, public outrage against the police is misplaced. It ought, instead, to be directed elsewhere. One has to remember that the police officer's job is a very hard one indeed. The average policeman is poorly paid and works in terrible conditions. Career opportunities for those who join the force at the lower ranks are limited and most constables stagnate, or at best rise to become sub-inspectors or inspectors. Have we ever heard of a constable becoming a Director-General of Police? The higher ranks are almost wholly reserved for those who qualif y for the Indian Police Service (IPS).

Numerous commissions have been set up to study the problems faced by the police and to suggest ways and means to lift their morale and fix their pay and allowances at realistic levels. Most often, the reports of these commissions do not see the light of day. Thus, under the circumstances, how can one expect high ethical and moral standards from a harassed, underpaid and overworked force?

If one were to step into the shoes of some of these policemen, one could easily gauge the depth of their suffering and their daily ordeal to make ends meet. In addition, they have to be on the right side of the powers that be, lest they are punished by a transfer to a remote area. The country's policemen require counselling and better salaries, and should be provided basic comforts so that they can go about their jobs with some peace of mind. Lambasting them for getting tough is not going to get us anyw here.