Anger boils in the police force

The anger in the rank and file of the Mumbai police force is palpable. The force is angry with the audacious way in which one of their own (assistant police inspector Sachin Suryavanshi) was badly beaten up by a group of MLAs inside the Vidhan Bhavan. Speak to any police officer of any rank and all of them have one single sentiment – the MLAs should be punished and taught a lesson.

In Mumbai, politicians and policemen have had a unique relation wherein they have regular run-ins with each other and are always at loggerheads, but this latest incident of being beaten up by politicians has really angered the force and even badly hit their morale.

Former Mumbai police commissioner MN Singh felt that it is a sorry state of affairs in Maharashtra, wherein, the protector now pleads for protection from the law-makers inside the temple of democracy. “There are certain politicians who think they are above the law and need to be shown their place. The rule of law must prevail, otherwise the police will not be able to protect the society. If politicians behave like this, how will the public behave with the police,” Singh said.

The way politicians have behaved, it is bound to affect the moral of the force, “I applaud the leadership of DGP Sanjeev Dayal who took a strong stand in the matter. This will send a positive signal in the whole force and ensure that their morale does not sag,” Singh said.

Former DGP  PS Pasricha said, “There has to be mutual respect between the politicians and policemen. While the politicians should respect the law of the land and let policemen do their duty, the policemen should also treat the public and politicians with dignity and respect,” Pasricha said.

@nikhildixit99