Cause of Concern: Excessive use of force on protesting citizens & failure of police in handling crowd
Shams Ur Rehman Alavi
The Asian Tribune
The latest incident that saw killing of five persons, mostly youth, in Sambhal, has once again brought focus on the need for proper crowd control system and the protocol that has to be followed in such cases.
Despite the Places of Worship Act, a claim on the mosque was made and survey was ordered, leading to confusion and anger among residents. Was administration not aware that such sudden intervention of a lawyer and the beginning of the survey, led to panic?
Still, survey began and when the residents gathered, it led to the unfortunate killings of five persons.
Shouldn’t the police have first used other ways to ensure that there was no conflict or clash. In recent past, there have been major incidents like youths’ protest against Agnipath scheme North, especially, Bihar that damaged trains and railway property, but the police didn’t act as harsh.
In Haryana during Jat quota stir, property worth hundreds of crores was burnt, entire Rohtak city was ravaged apart from many districts that saw violence, but police force didn’t react with fury.
But in Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh), there were deaths, despite awareness that people were upset over the turn of events. The proper system is that there should not be excessive use of force or brutality on our own citizens.
Any issue has to be tackled with proper plan and if there is a hint or clear signal that there is possibility of reaction, then police can take senior leaders, social workers, activists, community heads in confidence to diffuse the anger.
Also, firing is not an option on own citizens. It is not British Raj that the chest or head are targeted. A judicial probe has begun and hopefully it will be known that who fired and how the anger took such a turn that people were shot dead.
However, once again there is need to impart proper training to police personnel that in any country, any situation can be handled better and there are proper ways.
The use of particular words and terms in media also differs from one place to another.
In some cases, even those who attack and burn property, are termed ‘protesters’ but in other instances, sections of media media has used words like ‘updravi’ or those involved in ruckus and attack.
The use of terms in the media reporting and
choice of language apart, it has to be seen when firing takes place readily and what are the circumstances when people get fired upon or when even much more violent protest, is not fired upon and tackled ‘softly’.
The composition of police force–personnel and officers, should also reflect society and the diversity. Do all communities get proper representation in the force!
That’s an important question. If force doesn’t have adequate representation of all groups including different sections of society and communities including the minorities, then it is also not a healthy sign.
Earlier, reports of Commissions on riots have also pointed towards the aspect of police brutality.
In the past too, such incidents occurred and despite video recording and availability of the modern tools, it is an issue that is yet to be properly addressed. Year after year, incidents occur and probe reports, recommendations go to cold storage.
It must be realised that repetition of such incidents are not good for a modern society and a country that is moving fast on different fronts. It affects our prestige and hurts social fabric too. [Photo is for representational purpose. Courtesy: Shantum Singh, Pexels.com]
