The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : This police officer preaches peace

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 12, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

This police officer preaches peace

J.S. Ifthekhar

Chakrapani

HYDERABAD: A street brawl occurs and two Muslim youths land in the police station with bloody noses. They trade obscenities and each wants the police to take action against the other. Inspector Chakrapani takes in their aggressive postures. No, he doesn't shout at them nor books a case straightaway.

Instead, he closes his eyes for a moment and recites khuziul afva wamur bilurfi wa aariz anil jaheeleen. And then translates the verse: hold to forgiveness, command what is right but turn away from the ignorant.

That is verse 199 from Surat Al A'raf of the Quran. The belligerent youths are taken aback. They are shocked and ashamed that a Hindu police officer is telling them what their holy book says about forgiveness. They patch up and declare their intention to bury the hatchet.

Goodness wins

That was at Kamatipura police station in 2003. And it's not a solitary case. Whichever police station Mr. Chakrapani works, he leaves behind his typical style of settling disputes.

"Forgive and reconcile. Repay evil with good. That's what the Quran says. When you are Muslims, why don't you follow it," this poser of Chakrapani leaves the litigants dumbfounded.

This `police-priest' has achieved spectacular success in resolving quarrels in the light of Quran and Hadith (Prophet's sayings).

What made this hard-nosed cop turn to religion? When in the old city, he found that poverty and unemployment is the major cause for trouble. "I started reading the Quran and memorised verses which speak of peace, forgiveness and love. Whenever a dispute comes to me, I try to settle it appealing to one's faith and it works", says Mr. Chakrapani who is now Inspector at Nampally police station.

At Bahadurpura police station, a woman and her daughter approached him and complained of theft of their purse by a youth. Chakrapani made out that they were telling lies.

He asked them to come clean and quoted the Quran "Innamal mominoonal lazeena iza zukkiral lahu .." (For believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts quake...).

The women couldn't believe their ears and admitted their fault. It was actually a case of eve teasing and they wanted help.

It's all in the faith

Mr. Chakrapani has a diary wherein he has jotted down the Quranic verses and their English translations.

"I dissuade people from entering into unnecessary litigation when a compromise is possible," he says.

Sure, faith moves mountains.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail