vcsekhar wrote:The mother told us that she would have never run off after which I contacted a senior IPS officer that I knew and he called the local CI to push the investigation along. She was traced a few days later with the cell phone of the guy and they got her just in time, the guy was part of a trafficking gang and the deal was already made to sell her off.
Its a sad situation for the cops, most are highly stretched out already having 14 - 15 hour duty days. Recently a local activist put a case in the SC asking it to direct the govt to not ask the cops to work such high number hours a day. Seems they have been working 7 days a week and are on call 24 hours a day.
arshyam wrote:If I were to work 14-15 hours a day in the field and also work weekends, I too would be grumpy to everyone, and end up with health issues on top of it. So who'd want to opt for such work as a career choice?
Police - even though it looks like a glamorous job is a very stressful one. The
Police Act, 1861 still is the base act under which all Indian police forces operate. And the Act is very clear on one thing; a police man is assumed to be on duty 24/7. So this may be only government department where a police man is generally taking a "permission" to move away from his jurisdictional area. Other department staff don't take "permission" but "apply for leave". A day off is generally called a "permission" (to be away from the PS and be on rest).
India may be the only country where the "cutting edge" of a police force have a working arrangement which forces them to maintain "two households". In India, the crucial ranks in the police force are 1) Sub Inspector 2) Inspector. These officials are eligible to be transferred to any station or post in a state within a matter of hours. There is no minimum or maximum limit on the tenure (in present PS/Post), the distance to reach the new PS/Post location. So in many cases these officers have to establish a household for their family at a more convenient location (so that wife's job, kid's school etc. is smooth) and also stay away at a different place with some basic comfort. This "two household" life style itself triggers a lot of problems. It is in such situations that many officers slowly get involved in shady activities, or have concubines etc. Being the cutting edge of the force, these officials also have lots of discretionary powers which can be misused. And any mis-adventure here will also make the official liable for blackmail by the political class
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A person visiting a doctor (in Govt. service) essentially would be willing to tell the truth to him. Govt. offices, hospitals etc sees a large foot fall. But generally people who come there would be willing to be truthful. They are there to get a work done, and would bring in the necessary proof for the same. Where as a police station sees a more wide variety of crowd, and a much more "shady" characters. The line between an honest petitioner and a shady chap coming with a false compliant is very thin. Take for example, the woman who insisted that her daughter will never run away with any one. It is her belief, and it is that what media etc. high lights. But a police man from experience knows that the girl was very much in contact with the man/boy and at least the initial part of elopement was by mutual understanding (the later part of human trafficking may not have been known to the girl). Now if the police officer tells this to the mother, she and the media folks would hound him.
In court rooms more smart people can debate on the law points for years. But in police stations people approach demanding instance justice. A techie in Bengaluru comes crying saying that some one just ran away with his iPhone. He expects the entire station crowd to just run out of the PS and patrol the city to catch the pick pocket. The very next complainant comes with a petition saying that his "very good & cultured daughter is missing". He also expects the entire station strength to jump into their jeeps looking for the girl. So every one expects rapid response and instance justice from the Police (but not from the courts). And as a police man friend once told me;
"Even the most brilliant person generally will NOT advice a doctor on how to perform a surgery, but even the dumbest person will have an expert advice for police men investigating a case".
Now to answer the moot question. Why should any one join such a department. The reason is simple. The department still have a big say in public life. For a simple graduate (for SIs and Inspectors) to a 10th Std pass; this may be the only job which gives them a large share of power and command over people. And this is also a job which gives a steady source of income. And this is also a job where money can also be made on the side. And the police man do not need to go demanding bribes, Indian system has a way to ensure that it reaches him on time
. As they say there are "vegetarian" police men (who will not actively demand bribe, but is willing to take it when offered), and also "non-vegetarian" police men (who generally are ruthless, and also very keen on demanding bribes).
ceremony with old friends.