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Need to change image of the police

The report, “Study shows cops in poor light” (September 8), albeit disturbing, hardly comes as a surprise. No doubt, the working of the police in the state leaves much to be desired. The most visible executive arm of the state is seen by the public at large as “corrupt, inefficient and partisan” — more a tormentor than protector of the people.

The encouraging part of the story is that “Public Audit of Police Services” in the state was ordered by D S Manhas, the state’s incumbent Director-General of Police, in his bid to know the ground reality, and that he did not reject the disturbing report as rubbish. Instead, he is reported to have remarked that he will make all-out efforts to remove the shortcomings.

Pertinently enough, on taking over the reins of the office, Manhas reportedly stated that in independent India, the police should be a “Service Organization” and not a “force” to repress/suppress the people.

Of course, the desideratum calls for a radical attitudinal change in the people manning the sensitive department coupled with the requisite changes in their recruitment and training. Periodic refresher/ re-orientation courses would be beneficial for the in-service personnel.

Police officers generally use “political interference” in their working as an alibi to wriggle out of an unpleasant situation. To my mind, an upright officer should be able to resist pressure from any quarter — political or otherwise.

TARA CHAND, Ambota (Una)

Railway crossing

This refers to the news item, “3 school kids die as train hits van in Nakodar” (September 13).

Railway officials have been showing plans to upgrade rail services in the country for the last many years. But they have neglected the core issue of unmanned railway crossings throughout the country.  It’s shocking and amazing that in spite of showing huge profits in the budgets of the Railways, railway officials are often heard saying, “the cost of having a manned crossing is very high to be managed.” But no one realizes the agony of the family members of those killed at unmanned railway crossings.

The recent Nakodar mishap, in which 3 children lost their lives in a train - van collision at an unmanned railway crossing is another episode of lapse on the part of the authorities. The authorities concerned should immediately take steps to prevent any such mishap in future. 

HARPREET SANDHU, Former Additional Advocate-General,  Punjab, Ludhiana

Historic agreement Please refer to the news item, “Small irritant but a big pain” (September 12), by your roving editor Man Mohan. In fact, a few months back your roving editor had broken the story of “chitmohals” (enclaves), which attracted the attention of the governments of both India and Bangladesh to take some concrete action in this regard. The enclaves were the legacy of the past, result of disputes between two regional kings — the Raja of Cooch Behar and the Nawab of Rangpur. This is a historic as well as the most important agreement between the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh. The human angle of the agreement is the most important aspect, apart from the political ramifications arising out of the agreement. Just think of enclaves or hamlets where there is no authority, no law and order, no development, no school, no basic education and facilities, and no country is ready to take the responsibilities of the people living there for their development. And imagine this is the situation when almost every country in the world claims to be progressive and developed. One feels ashamed of this sort of development, which lacks human touch and care for human beings. The credit of this goes to the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh for reaching an agreement on demarcation of land boundaries between the two countries and matters related to it. The people of the enclaves and the coming generations should always be thankful to the leaders of their respective countries. SANJAY SAKSENA, Dy Director (PR), M P Information Centre, New Delhi