L E T T E R S    T O    T H E    E D I T O R

Defiance of rule of law and justice

The editorial “Rape of justice” (June 11) rightly held that the men in khaki are worse than beasts and their reputation is in tatters. In fact, the police, the bureaucrats and the political elite care two hoots about human rights and hence decolonisation of the police force is a far cry. Accordingly, the Supreme Court’s directives on police reforms have been carried out by most states including Haryana more in breach than in compliance.

One wonders why should a rape victim squeal in deep anguish for justice in the DGP’s office and not have access to an effective outfit like the District Police Complains Authority headed by a judicial authority in accordance with the apex court’s directions?

Unfortunately, this has been negated in the Haryana Police Act where the powers that be see no violation of human rights. The government smacks of a colonial mindset, institutionalised corruption and inhuman treatment not only to aam admi but also defiance of the rule of law and justice. If police officers and district authorities are responsible for Sarita’s death, they should be made to pay for it towards compensation for the victim and action for criminal negligence and dereliction of duty.

Setting up a District Police Complaints Authority, carrying out the police reforms strictly in tune with the Supreme Court’s directions, and putting in place an elite police unit under the DGP for enforcing discipline in the rank and file of the police brook no delay.

Dr PREM SINGH DAHIYA, Rohtak

II

Sarita’s suicide raises several questions. What has happened to our policemen? What should be done with their beastly instinct? Why are they becoming so insensitive towards their professional ethics?

Why are the police forgetting their fundamental duty of protecting and helping the law-abiding people? If police is to become criminal then where should the helpless and the victims of injustice go? Why do the men in khaki act like beasts while dealing with a woman? Haven’t they sisters, mothers and daughters at home?

Who will mend this “force” which is going astray? If the system has gone wrong, who will mend the system? The government or the people themselves? What is the Haryana government doing? Why doesn’t it get feedback about each and every public servant?

All the awakened people, intelligentsia and the media should forcefully come forward to help the evolution of a new modern Haryana which believes in the healthy uplift of the whole society.

SUDESH KUMAR SHARMA, Kapurthala

III

Sarita ended her life to expose her rape by the Haryana policemen. Ironically, her mother, Saroj Devi, had also lost her life fighting an attempted rape in the fields. Shackled by man-made customs, purdah-clad, hapless women of Haryana have since ages been doing manual farming in the fields in addition to doing household chores. Is such a brutal environment conducive to end the increasing female foeticide?

Our politicians are not tired of drumming up of atrocities of Mughal and British police in the past. But they are unabashedly defending lumpen and goonda elements in the police today. By sacrificing her life at the altar of women’s honour, Sarita has attained the status of a martyr.

S.S. BENIWAL, Chandigarh

Oil price hike

There is a hue and cry over the oil price hike. Though Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Sri Lanka have already cut oil subsidies, India is lagging behind.

The number of vehicles plying on our roads is multiplying day by day. To make our towns and roads pollution-free, the Centre and the states must ration the supplies. This will help tide over the crisis to some extent.

SAMARJIT GUPTA, Jawali (HP)