Though young policemen are termed comparatively well-mannered, it’s all in the general culture of each station, says youngsters
A CPM activist being roughed up by cops during a protest in city in 2013. - file pic
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as a recent directive from the state police chief has emphasised the need for dignified conduct by the officials, the incidents of verbal abuse by the policemen are aplenty and generous behaviour has not yet been institutionalised in many stations.
The city youngsters approached by this newspaper termed the policemen of Poojapura and Museum stations as approachable, while Fort police station, one of the first to get the Janamaithry tag, was described as rude. The cantonment station which was once selected as a model police station, still share a strained relationship with the people of nearby Rajaji Nagar.
As per Police Complaints Authority chairman Justice Narayana Kurup, not less than 90 per cent of all the cases that come before the authority involve verbal abuse and a handful of them are solely verbal abuse cases.
“This week I received a complaint of a bus driver being abused by a policeman. The other day, a politician complained he was verbally abused. A youngster was verbally abused after his friend eloped with a girl. Examples are abundant and we generally recommend to the respective superintendents of police to slap Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000,” said Justice Narayana Kurup.
Though young policemen are termed comparatively well-mannered, it’s all in the general culture of each station, says youngsters.
“My job involves giving intimation letters to all local police stations. I hear a lot of abusive words being hurled in Fort and Vattiyoorkavu stations and these stations are generally rude to everyone. At other places, things depend from officer to officer,” said Jithesh of Mannanthala.
As per officials of Fort police station, they are severely understaffed and engage a lot with lorry drivers, people in Chalai, Karimadom colony and sweat themselves at thankless situations in East Fort unlike several other upmarket stations.
As per IG (Thiruvananthapuram) Manoj Abraham, the senior officers of each station and general infrastructure play a big role in the conduct of policemen.
“When the SI or the head constable of a particular station behaves well, other policemen will be forced to follow the suit earning repute to the station. Infrastructure also plays a big role. Imagine that the same rude officer and the visitors are seated in an air-conditioned cabin. The officials will get a feeling that uttering bad words does not suit their stature,” said IG Manoj Abraham.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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