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| A roadmap for development of JK Police | | | Jasbir Sarai | 10/15/2011 8:26:05 PM |
| The primary responsibility of Police forces across the world is maintenance of law and order. Traditionally, the responsibilities included keeping a check on crimes, rioting, accidents and providing assistance in other routine problems being faced by citizens. The proliferation of global terror posed a bigger challenge to policing. The police forces of developed countries adapted themselves to the new environment by making necessary changes in their laws to provide more teeth to the policing process and by improving on the infrastructure in terms of manpower and technology. Today, most of the advanced police forces have been vested upon with powers akin to those given to the Indian armed forces under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. The developed nations considered such protection and facility to be imperative for the protection and efficient functioning of their police forces. Sadly, in India, instead of providing such powers to the law enforcing agencies across the Nation as has been done in developed nations, campaigns are being launched to snatch them away even in areas like J&K and the North-East where they are absolutely necessary to counter terrorism being sponsored by inimical o foreign forces.
Fortunately, J&K is comparatively free of vicious law and order problems as are being faced by other cities and states in India and abroad. The number of burglaries, murders, rapes, cases of road rage, accidents, killing of old people, suicides etc, are very less in J&K as compared to many other states. Therefore, routine functions pose the least of problems for the police force. Yet, there can be no two views about the fact that Policing in this terrorism infested State poses a unique challenge. The main challenge emerges from politics of agitation, internal security requirements and crisis situations. The fractured polity of the State, sadly, has the capacity to engineer riot like situations and marked violence that the police is required to handle before politics can take over. It is therefore axiomatic that the police force of the State should at least match, if not surpass, the facilities being provided to similar forces across the globe. There is an urgent need to develop special infrastructure, special skills and the will to walk the extra mile.
Even though the JK Police has responded admirably to the threat posed by terrorism it has, due to its small size and limited capability in the face of the massive problem, had to function with the assistance of Paramilitary forces and the Indian Army who played the dominant role in this critical scenario. Para-military forces have been of great assistance to the police in maintenance of law and order in the urban areas, especially sensitive cities like Srinagar, Awantipura, Baramulla, Kupwara etc. The army has assisted in curbing terrorism in the higher reaches where normal State machinery is unable to reach and also in checking infiltration from across the line of control. Now, to be looked upon as an independent entity the police has to gear up to take on responsibility to maintain law and order, deal with political unrest and fight terrorism in the hinterland. The army will, of course, carry on with the responsibility to man the borders and check cross border infiltration of terror.
This is undoubtedly a tall order, but not entirely unachievable as has been demonstrated by the police forces of other developed countries. What is required is clarity of thought, a readjustment of priorities and ample government support to modernise and develop. Most of all, the force has to generate the will to take on the challenge. There is a requirement to debate the issue both internally and in the public domain in order to garner the best possible intellectual support to deal with the process of change. This needs to be followed by some dynamic action to build capacity for which the government of the state and Centre has to be taken on board. Powerful lobbies and think tanks need to be established to push forward the projects. The assistance of retired officers who would bring with them a wealth of experience and ability to articulate would be invaluable. Undoubtedly, the Police is taking some steps but they fall woefully short of the requirement.
In J&K, the two decade long shadow of terrorism is waning slowly but surely and people are looking towards what is commonly termed as “normalcy”. There is talk of a change in the security paradigm commensurate with the changing situation on ground; more responsibility is being sought to be placed on JK Police with the Army and Paramilitary forces fading gradually into the background. The people’s aspirations for true “normalcy” can be met only if the JK Police is energised to take on the challenge of security in its entirety. This is also linked with the issue of repeal of enabling legislations like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Disturbed Area Act etc. So long as the Police requires the support of the Army and the Para-military forces these legislations cannot be repealed. The ball can be set rolling only after the JK police comes out on its own, not much can be achieved by putting the cart before the horse.
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