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Following NHRC guidelines to the core

Rajesh Nair

PONDICHERRY: The Pondicherry police have a different way of dealing with a protesting crowd. That might be the reason most of the protest in Pondicherry, even if it's a political rally in a charged atmosphere, ends in a peaceful manner.

Sources inform that the day before any protest rally, the police would have a talk with the leaders and make sure that they get arrested at a vantage point. Probably, the follow up measures after the arrest is the main reason they court arrest without even a slightest of protest.

Today, many of the roads leading to the Chief Secretariat was filled with riot gear policemen, to deal with some 350 government employees who took out a protest rally to highlight their grievances.

At the end, they courted arrest before reaching anywhere near the Chief Secretariat. However, the leaders met the Chief Minister and placed before him their demands, after the arrest.

But what struck most during the protest was a policeman in a riot gear carrying several packets of biscuits in his hand. When enquired it was found that the biscuits were meant for the employees. The police also fed them with water packets and tea.

"This we do it normally after all arrests is made. We even give lunch for them, if the arrests are made during that time" said B. Srikanth, SP North.

He said it was one of the guidelines given to the police by the National Human Rights Commission in dealing with those who have been arrested.

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