KOCHI: The case connected with the abduction and the assault of a female actor in Kochi has brought to focus the need for an efficient and authentic information dissemination system on the part of the police. Although people wax eloquent about information society, we still lack a proper system for sharing authentic information. The police in all civilised countries have a system for the exchange of information with the media without causing prejudice to the ongoing investigation process. Even police departments in Delhi and some other cities in the country were seen briefing the media on important cases. But the police system in Kerala is not having any such system of official briefing to the media except for the whims and fancies of the officer concerned.
The society, through the press, has a right to know about what kind of investigative process is adopted by the police officials assigned with the task. This is especially important in cases connected with public importance such as the abduction of the actor or the Jisha murder. The police team that probed both the cases never bothered to brief the media during the investigation, and the lack of a proper information dissemination system led to all kinds of speculations gaining the status authenticity.
Apart from speculation gaining ground, the situation also provides enough scope for using sensational cases to settle scores by top officials. The comments made by ex-police chief T.P. Senkumar in the actor abduction and former vigilance director Jacob Thomas on the Jisha case have raised doubts about the credibility of the investigation process. The question of the mode of investigation cannot be held hostage for settling personal animosities by officials at the helm.
According to former DGP Jacob Punnoose, a full-fledged media briefing about the inquiry process is not a feasible idea. Even some foreign police agencies with the practice of issuing press releases regarding crimes provide only sketchy information formally. Such information may not be sufficient for the media, he said. Mr Punnoose, who initiated formation of a police information centre headed by an information officer for media communications, said formally revealing any information regarding ongoing investigations could even invite legal issues, apart from affecting probe.
According to him, during an investigation, the police could officially provide only partial information such as confirmation of arrests. Denial statements could also be issued in the case of wrong sensitive news like the detention of any prominent person. But revealing any piece of information regarding quizzing of any person or evidence gathered would not only affect investigations but can also attract legal issues to the officers concerned, he said. Speaking to this newspaper N. Subash Babu, a former police superintendent, pointed out that the government should introduce an efficient information dissemination system in connection with briefing the media.
“It is not difficult to add such a system if the authorities concerned show the will,” says Mr Babu, whom the government deputed to act as an official spokesperson on Muthanga and Marad incidents. “In the case of Muthanga, I prepared a dossier about the incident and the same was given to the media in advance before answering their questions. A similar approach was also held in the case of Marad,” he said. "On both occasions, the approach helped in providing a clear reply to the questions the media raised."
According to him the archaic service rules prohibiting government officials sharing information with reporters needed to be amended for the establishment of proper spokespersons for the police. The bitter experience of former vigilance director Vinson M. Paul for briefing media regarding the Paul Muthoot George murder case also acts as a constraint on officers talking to the press formally. Mr Paul, who headed a special investigation team, briefed the media regarding the progress of the probe, but it invited the wrath of the High Court. "Though the facts revealed by him did not affect the case and were even found valid by the subsequent CBI probe, it was a lesson for the police," said a senior IPS officer.
Whatever may be the excuses mentioned by the police officials, the absence of official media briefing culture only provides the scope for all kinds of speculative reports. The police department should devise a system of official briefing/statement on criminal offences without prejudicing the investigation process. The practice of such a system will also bring the much-needed accountability.
