Special police wing on law and order mooted

By W. Chandrakanth

HYDERABAD, DEC. 22. The State Government is planning to establish a wing on the lines of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) to strengthen the law and order machinery.

A meeting of senior police officials was held here recently to discuss the formation of the wing.

The Home Ministry is considering several aspects in this direction, including a survey by independent agencies or even universities to identify areas to be kept under constant watch.

The concern stems from two factors - one, the increasing complex nature of crimes and high sophistication of criminals and the second, the Government's desire to project Andhra Pradesh and Hyderabad in particular, as a safe place for investments.

The dramatic technological changes and the newer challenges thrown at the State police are cited among the reasons for the decision. Sensing the future challenges and realising the fact that no one could become a superior police person without special preparation for the job, the Home Department is venturing forth in this direction. And if the entire force can not be prepared for the task ahead, at least creation of a special wing could help it to improve efficiency.

There is a growing feeling among police personnel that lack of specialised skills in policing was proving detrimental to the department's interest in some cases. Though the force has developed admirable skills in crime investigation, it is still found wanting in the area of prevention. The latter is not a onetime effort but constant updating is needed.

Each police station being on its own surely does not help the department as piecing the information again becomes a problem. Hence, the consensus that a centralised wing would be more effective.

It is indisputable that the demands on the force, including VIP protection, would only increase in the future and the threat perceptions on internal security due to externally-aided terrorism will not lend any comfort.

The disappearance of the thin line between legitimate protest and threat to law and order during the course of agitations is another area of concern. As movements get to become more militant, without proper understanding of the background, the department could only face the charge of highhandedness on its part. The `analysis' of the problems in advance might place the force in a better position to deal with `trouble-makers'

and might even prevent use of excessive force.

Though it can not at present shift the focus from the drill and regimentation aspect of the force (thanks to the military model it had adopted), there are areas in which it can excel with right emphasis and proper training. At least with right inputs, officials observe.

The decision to constitute something like RAW would go a long way in arming the police well it is felt and also would be in keeping with the changing demands. Though not as part of a reform within the department, it becomes inevitable that it develops such an arm to forewarn itself of the possibilities, an argument in its favour says.

The recent decision of the Government to create a separate force to tackle land mafia and related problems and the present exercise to create a wing to compile forewarnings are more in keeping with the Government's efforts to project a clean image of the State.

The exercise of the Government in wooing foreign investment and convert the State into a highly industrialised one would not materialise if it continues to be besieged by a plethora of problems. Underworld mafia operations or acts of terrorism and sabotage are the least preferred.

The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is projecting Hyderabad as a hub of activity is said to have agreed to a revamp of the department albeit discreetly in certain segments. There is also a word of caution from some quarters as fears of police sub- culture gaining an upper hand are not ruled out.

The effort, however, is not to create a wing which would sustain the interests of those in authority and develop anti-legalism, it is said. Paradigm shifts, information technology boom and criminal-politician nexus are some of the reasons good enough to necessitate the formation of the wing, sources say.

Social tensions, communal conflicts and the growing voices of dissidence also would end up in trouble. More and more marginalised sections taking to the streets call for special attention, they point out. The need to identify the causes for such tensions and areas that tend to be troublesome one day or the other is far greater now than ever.

The initial survey is aimed at broadly dividing the area of operations on the real and perceived threats and creating a data bank that would come in handy even during sensitive situations. Once this is done the department would go ahead with the idea. Afterall, forewarned is forearmed, the protagonists of the idea argue.

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