Following imposition of President’s Rule in Uttarakhand, some policemen are feeling relaxed with no political interference deterring them from discharging duties.
A circle officer said that sans constant pressure from politicians, they are now executing their works effectively. “Before the President’s Rule was promulgated we used to be pestered by politicians interfering into the routine policing, calling the shots, coaxing us about what to do and what not to do. Maintaining law and order was immaterial as petty politics used to gain precedence over curbing crimes. We faced political pressure when conducting verification and anti-encroachment drives,” he said.
“Besides, we are now being spared much of the VIP security duties,” he said.
Another police officer averred,“We are active and vigilant, motivated by the regime change with stress being laid more on efficiency rather than placating politicians which has also improved routine tasks like patrolling substantially,” he said.
Confiding conversationally, police officers said that whenever a case was registered regarding a clash and the like the police station in-charge used to be swept over with phone calls coming from the politicians, goading them to deal the case this or that way, throwing investigation to the winds.
“We could hardly defy them fearing actions like transfer to remote places but now we are functioning relaxed, discharging our duty,” said a police station in-charge.
Another said that anti-socials are now on the run, fearing to be nabbed and jailed under stringent laws. “Even the parties often resorting to gheraos, obstructing traffic and causing public nuisance, are exercising restraint,” he said.
Narrating such an incident, a police officer said that the agitating jewellers, bent on obstructing roads as part of their stir, had stepped back when warned of being booked under stringent sections of the law. “Their faces darkened and their gaits drooped. They dispersed without making a fuss. We are convinced that the unknown fear of the President’s Rule caused this change,” he said.