Tamil Nadu   

When police personnel posed as complainants

K.T. Sangameswaran

D.Mukherjee, DGP, Tamil Nadu.

CHENNAI: As part of efforts to improve the image of the police among members of the public, a zonal Inspector-General of Police hit upon a novel idea.

He sent policemen, posing as complainants, to different police stations. And guess what happened? Some of them were abused, some others beaten up.

Director-General of Police D. Mukherjee narrated the constables' experience on Tuesday, at a programme to "sensitise resource persons on protection of human rights and to promote awareness on human rights literacy," organised by the State and National Human Rights Commissions.

"Shocking"

Mr. Mukherjee said the Inspector-General assembled 85 head constables throughout his zone and, after briefing them, sent them to police stations where they had not served, with complaints. After three days, they reassembled to speak about their experiences. "The results were shocking," the DGP said. The police personnel then took a vow that they would not indulge in similar acts.

Explaining that violation of human rights amounted to abuse of State's authority, he said the police, the most visible arm, were given the most extensive powers. If the police deviated from the principle as to "what you should [do], when you should [do] and how you should [do]", they would tarnish the image of the force.

Realising that image of the force had taken a beating, a `police image project' was launched. In addition to this, zonal officers were allowed to evolve their own themes. Simultaneously, the Police Training College organised training courses on human rights and police image project.

"We have made a beginning," the DGP said, adding that the efforts were paying dividends. He made a request to the NHRC to help the police with the course material.

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