Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010359490300.htm

Tamil Nadu

A demanding by-election

The police drawn for by-poll duty are working almost 20 hours a day, writes L. Srikrishna

Thirumangalam Assembly constituency, which is set for a by-poll on January 9, has a little over 3,000 policemen and officers drawn from neighbouring districts. With the D-Day approaching fast, the custodians of law are under severe stress, working almost 20 hours a day.

Many Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors narrated the day-to-day poll duty — earlier there were three shifts, but now two-shifts. From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., personnel have to take position at their respective points. After the campaigning comes to an end at 10 p.m., another batch of personnel come to the spot. The feeding advance for each constable is Rs. 55 a day, policemen in Kalligudi area said.

Though the Election Commission of India provided the required funds to the police department for poll duty, many officers complained about the absence of basic amenities such as toilets and bathrooms in schools. However, for women police, the authorities had ensured that they were given attached bathrooms in educational institutions, a police officer said.

In sensitive places

The case is not the same for police personnel posted at critical points. For instance, in villages such as Mela Urappanur, Eliyarpathi and Kappalur, which have been identified as ‘sensitive’ and hyper sensitive, policemen are on round-the-clock duty. As a result, they have to take shelter in a ‘chavadi.’

For some Inspectors drawn from other districts, holding charge of law and order has been a nightmarish experience. Recalling the last Sunday incidents, they described it as tough. It is not only harrowing, but troublesome. “We are discharging our duties as per law. But both the ruling party and the AIADMK find fault with us. Some even suspect our integrity and use abusive language,” an officer in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police said.

The sudden shifting of DIG of Police S. S. Krishnamoorthy and Superintendant of Police M. Manohar has shocked the special teams of officers. They said that their superiors were always on the move, right from the polling process was set in motion. “It is not new for senior officers from getting posted to a place or shifted to another city/district, and we are upset,” they said.

A senior police officer said that the Election Commission of India should take stern action against erring police officers and not just transfer them based on allegations from political parties or other officials.