Are politicos to blame for police force's decay?

Experts claim growing political interference in postings and transfers is leading to lesser accountability

The Kurar quadruple murder case has raised a lot of uncomfortable questions for the police force.

After family and friends accused the Malad police of negligence and inaction, Senior Inspector Mohan Sankhe was transferred almost immediately.


Former police commissioner M N Singh believes it is important for the police chief to have a single-point command of the force.

However, Sankhe's case is an exception as records show that most policemen do not suffer the same fate depending on who they know in the government.

Experts claim that there is an increase in political interference in the police department , especially with regards to transfers and postings, which is slowly but steadily leading to the force's decay.

"Political interference results in diluting the force," said MN Singh, former police commissioner. "It is important that the commissioner has a single-point command for the force to run effectively.
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This is the only way we can improve our department and create a greater sense of accountability," he added.

For instance, reports claim there are officers who are not accepting their transfer postings.
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Other officers refuse promotions fearing they will lose out on money from the well-oiled syndicate they have created in their present jurisdiction.

Commenting on the political interference, an officeru00a0 said, on condition of anonymity, "Most postings are done through the government these days. Earlier, only senior officers would seek political support for postings.

But today, even an inspector directly approaches Mantralaya and gets his preferred posting."

Rajnish Seth, joint commissioner of police (Law and Order), said that if allegations or accusations are made against any policeman, a departmental enquiry is initiated and appropriate action is taken.
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"We always give a chance to the delinquent to put forth his side and take action based on that," said Seth. He, however, refused to comment on the political interference.

Senior officials from the police force also felt that a greater sense of accountability was needed in the force.
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YP Singh, former IPS officer-turned-lawyer, said thatu00a0 greater accountability would also ensure better policing. "If officers aren't pulled up for their lapses, the department will never be able to work at optimum levels."

Who's responsible?
Vijay Raghavan, associate professor, Centre for Criminology and Justice, School of Social Work, TISS, feels that the police department often shrugs its responsibility and does not register an FIR immediately.
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"If the complainant is not influential, police officers do not take him seriously and take their own time to register cases," he said.

He also pointed out that the trend of 'burking', where policemen prefer to register a non-cognisable offence instead of an FIR to shirk work or to show decreased crime rates, is affecting the force in a negative manner.

Who is Sankhe?
Mohan Sankhe, senior inspector at Kurar police station was shifted to Local Arms Control after reports surfaced that he did not take the matter seriously and filed a case of kidnapping only two days later. Dhanaji Nalawade, who was earlier with Bangur Nagar police station, has been appointed in his place.