A dangerous trend is in vogue these days whereby cops indulge in thrashing people on different counts. On one side, the reforms in the police department have been taking place with helmsmen focusing on its modernization and efficacy, on the other, such cases of cops including officers taking law in their hands by hitting people in a fit of anger or other reasons exposing the unprofessional traits of the men in khaki in J&K.
It is the right time that the cops in Jammu and Kashmir should be sensitised and trained about the legal limits of their authority, as they are not empowered to assault citizens. Unfortunately, the incidents of cops arbitrarily thrashing common people have unfortunately become far too frequent, almost as if it were their right, which is unacceptable and calls for immediate reformation because punishing the accused is not in their job’s domain.
Such uncalled-for behaviour needs to be rectified as soon as possible or else the police will have to face the trust deficit of the society, which is not good for any of the stakeholders. In this context, one more unwarranted episode of police’s highhandedness has been reported from Doda district wherein a case has been registered against an Assistant Sub-Inspector after a video purportedly showing him physically assaulting a two-wheeler rider in full public view went viral on social media.
Although the FIR has been registered in the case, but it becomes imperative that the cops who have been given the responsibility of investigation should probe the matter without any prejudice as this was vital for bringing the truth to the fore and also for improving policing in the Union Territory.
In the same context, a few days ago Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration had ordered the suspension of a former SDPO Gandhi Nagar after a JKAS officer blamed him for assault. Reportedly, it was also ordered that during the period of suspension, the aforesaid officer shall remain attached with the Police Headquarters, Jammu and Kashmir.
Such cases sadly act as blots on the image of Jammu and Kashmir Police thus making it necessary for the people at helm to take necessary steps to end this culture by educating the cops about their rights and authority without any ambiguity. Assaulting anyone by anybody is a crime and it is as simple as that therefore this basic principle needs to be imbibed among the cops belonging to all ranks so that aforesaid cases of unprofessional behaviour by the cops do not happen again.
To address this recurring problem effectively, the administration may consider instituting regular behavioural audits, compulsory human-rights refresher courses, and body-camera checks for all ranks. Such institutional mechanisms can act as deterrents against misuse of power while simultaneously protecting honest officers, thereby building a policing culture rooted in accountability, transparency, and public trust.
