Hyderabad: Despite strict directions from the court that cops should not involve themselves in resolving civil disputes, many are doing so. Chilkalguda sub-inspector K. Rajesh who was suspended on Wednesday for getting involved in a civil dispute is not the only such case. Many cops go undetected.
A senior police official said there is much development of infrastructure in the department but a drastic change of mindset is needed to ensure that such incidents do not take place. Department heads have been making this clear to its men but sadly, there is no change.
After this, Hyderabad police commissioner, Anjani Kumar urged his force to be polite, courteous and respectful to citizens. Soon after this, an inspector from Rachakonda commissionerate was transferred on similar grounds.
The attitude of few officers indulging in civil disputes is attributed to their place of work, superiors, political influence and financial gains. In most cases, officers are encouraged by their superiors or a local politician; in very rare cases do they decide to settle a dispute for their own vested interests.
But according to senior officials, such pressures are part of the police job profile. One has to learn how to toe the line and yet avert compulsive pressures.
Said a senior official, "One has to follow the instructions of a superior or perhaps also consider suggestions of politicians, but there is something called SOP or Standard Operating Procedure. If there is any SOP violation, the officer can refuse to budge.
The most likely thing to happen in such an eventuality would be a transfer to another location or into a non-focal department. But at least there is no slur on his career.”
