The Hindu : New Delhi News : Rajbir’s murder raises issues of policing

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Saturday, Mar 29, 2008
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Rajbir’s murder raises issues of policing

He was understood to be the blue-eyed boy of many in the Delhi police, observes Devesh K. Pandey

The sensational murder of “encounter specialist” Rajbir Singh has come as a shock to the Delhi police. Allegations about him being involved in malpractices may have been levelled from time to time, but whether they are true or not is a matter for investigation. Even so, the accusations have raised important issues pertaining to policing.

Inducted as a sub-inspector, Rajbir was among a select few to have been given out-of-turn promotions twice to become an assistant commissioner of police in just 13 years of service. Entrusted with counter-terrorism operations, he quickly gained popularity as an encounter specialist and bagged as many as five gallantry awards. He was understood to be the blue-eyed boy of many in the security and intelligence agencies.

According to many police officers, cops like Rajbir are products of a system that functions on the premise that the police need to occasionally transgress the set boundaries to deal with, and if required eliminate, hardened and habitual criminals. For this purpose, the system keeps looking for “trustworthy” and “daring” officers who are groomed to become potent tools for fighting crime, mostly by eliminating criminals.

Undoubtedly the goal of reining in dreaded criminals through such police officers is achieved to some extent. But it has been noticed in several cases that officers get carried away by the enormous power they wield; so much so that it is reflected even in their day-to-day activities. This inadvertently also opens up various “money-generating” avenues for them. Many of them eventually succumb to the temptation of making easy money and in the process they also make many enemies inside and outside the force. This is where the role of supervisory officers becomes important, for in a disciplined organisation such as the police they have the power to clip the wings of their subordinates if they are found indulging in any malpractice. By not exercising their supervisory power properly, the seniors in a way condone the misdemeanours of their juniors. Many in the force believe that there is always a possibility that by doing so supervisory officers can also exploit these officers for their own vested interests as and when required. All said and done, police officers agree that the system definitely requires officers like Rajbir who deliver when it comes to countering terrorism and dreaded criminals. “It is a fact that we do need officers with extraordinary skills, those who have the ability to withstand pressure from various quarters that follows every strong police action,” said a police officer, adding that proper supervision would ensure that such officers do not go astray or got mired in controversies.

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