The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Police inaction

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Friday, May 11, 2007
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Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Police inaction

Had a common man attacked a newspaper office and killed three persons apparently because a survey conducted by it did not project him as a possible future Chief Minister, would the government or the police have remained passive? The police were present in large numbers when the attack took place. Why then were the goondas allowed to get away?

J. Shourie Ranjana,
Madurai

* * *

It is shameful and surprising that the police who largely claim that encounter killings of suspected criminals are the surest way of eliminating crime waited endlessly for instructions from the Chief Minister to protect the people from the onslaught of a privileged group.

Kasim Sait,
Chennai

* * *

That the policemen deployed for thwarting a possible attack remained mute spectators while the attackers went on the rampage bears testimony to the deteriorating law and order situation. The police use all their might on peaceful protesters but remain passive when there is violence.

B. Madhava Murthy,
Hyderabad

* * *

Even as the police are under a cloud in Gujarat in connection with fake encounters, they failed in Madurai though they were present when the attack took place. They did not even respond to the pleas of the workers in the office! Smoke bombs or water jets could have avoided the death of the three men. I am sure this is not the India our freedom fighters dreamed of.

Syed Mohammed Iqbal,
Hyderabad

* * *

It is shameful that extra constitutional forces continue to exercise power in the largest democracy. Besides family feud, what the Madurai incident has exposed is the ever-ready-to-please-the-powerful attitude of the police.

S. Ramji,
Chennai

* * *

The dereliction of duty by police officials shows that they succumbed to nepotism. Who is answerable to the families of the three persons who lost their lives? It is unfortunate that supporters of political parties often resort to violent means to vent their ire.

Divya Gadde,
Vijayawada

* * *

Wednesday's senseless violence makes us wonder whether we live in a civilised society. The ultimate sufferers are the innocent people. Police inaction is regrettable.

Ashish Choudhury,
Salem

* * *

What happened in Madurai, like similar incidents elsewhere, was the culmination of continuous interference by ruling partymen in the functioning of the police. Instances of party bosses and cadres storming into police stations and issuing commands at will are common. Policemen who do not fall in line undergo humiliation. Unfortunately, the police do not get any sympathy from the people or the media when they are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea as they were on Wednesday.

M. Seshadri,
Chennai

* * *

The editorial was right in calling for a CBI probe. The local police will heave a sigh of relief after the CBI takes charge of the probe.

Murali S. Raghavan,
Cordova, Tennessee

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