Soft touch to Delhi Police's brute force

Two years ago, Rajbala, a supporter of Baba  Ramdev, lost her life to the lathi charge of the Delhi Police, when it cracked down on the yoga guru’s anti-corruption protest at Ramlila Maidan. Many others are injured by the bamboo lathis that the khaki-clad police men, not just in the national capital, but across the country.

Now, all that is set to change. Or at least the blows will not have the same impact, as the Delhi Police has decided to hang its colonial-era canes and replace them with plastic lathis, which would hurt less.

Made of polycarbonate, a transparent, solid and virtually unbreakable material, the new batons are easy to hold and swing due to light weight and they will also hurt less.  These new batons are being progressively introduced, and soon the best wooden friend of the Delhi police constable would go into oblivion.

“As they are light in weight, they tend to cause less injuries to people and reduce the chances of grievous injuries,” said a Delhi Police official. Bamboo lathis have caused serious injuries to protesters on many occasions and last year’s protest at the India Gate was the last time when these lathis served their purpose.

 “The bamboo lathis were much lethal and caused serious injuries to the mob. These plastic batons would hurt less, and since its weight is lighter, our jawans can swing it more efficiently,” added the official.

The new batons were first introduced in the Delhi Armed Police battalions and in some key areas in New Delhi that see many protest demonstrations. “They will soon be introduced in all police stations,” added the official.  Delhi has 180 police stations.

This is just one of the steps towards better mob control as European countries have developed several techniques that avoid hurting the protesters. To quell protests,  many of these countries have been using plastic batons, besides plastic bullets, pepper spray, paint balls and water canons .

Bamboo lathis have served the Delhi Police for a long time. But will this newly forged plastic weapon be as effective as its predecessor? Well, only time and situation of the national capital would unearth its utility and effectiveness.