Cops are always in the news.  More for their callous, reckless, corrupt behaviour and very rarely for their brave/kind acts.

In the very recent days, the cops of India have been too much in the public eye.

Barely a week ago, Telugu Mega Star Chiranjeevi’s daughter eloped to get married.  Though she is a major and no complaint has been booked, the police were ‘helping’ the star find his daughter by harassing the friends of the groom by waking them in the dead of the night and interrogating them with abuses and threats.

The news of 16^th October informed us that 10 cops who were on trial have been found guilty in the 1997 Delhi shooting.  Their crimes varied from murders in the guise of encounter killings (killing a businessman), attempt to murder, destroying important evidence, giving false evidence to the court (in the case of Jessica lal murder).

And now the more sensational news is that of the role played by the cops of Kolkotta in the mysterious death of Rizwanur Rehman on 21^st Sept. 

The cops here played the villain in forcing Priyanka to return to her parents while registering a case of kidnapping against Rizwan though they were given proof of their marriage under the Special Marriages Act.  Evidently the power of the business tycoon was more than the sense of duty. But thankfully, the CBI has been asked to investigate.

While on the other hand, here in Andhra Pradesh, we read about cases where the police once again trespassed their roles and arranged the weddings of the couples who had eloped and whose parents had filed cases of their children missing! 

And a little earlier in June-July, there were the infamous cases of encounter killings in Gujrat, which created a furor. 

And in August, the cops beat up a BPO youth black and blue just for crossing the road while the CM Modi was going in a procession.  Other than the mistake of slowing the procession, the youth’s grave error was that of being a Muslim!  Well, the police in Gujrat function a little differently.  They support the mobs that kill and loot!

And they also hate the Muslims there because they are human. ( Said by the gujrat State administration during the 2002 genocide on why the police helped by mobs)

Another incident of the bravery of the police came to light in Bhagalpur, where a hungry man who snatched a chain was caught and beat up the angry crowd.  And after he was beaten brutally, the police stepped in to do their bit.  The poor thief was tied to the motorcycle and dragged all the way to the Police Station!!

And this is the same Bhagalpur where the police had put acid in the eyes of the prisoners and under trials and blinded them!!

Somehow the common man always found the policemen formidable.  And not without reason.  Though they are supposed to be pro-people, the cops behave anti-people.  But when the one who has to protect you attacks you, whom do you turn to?? That is the billion dollar question the ordinary citizen expects an answer to! 

Some of the heinous crimes committed by the police here in Andhra Pradesh are the firing at the peaceful protestors in Khammam.  These people were demanding their rights for land.  Another incident in which the police fired at the mob was in the bomb blasts of the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad.  Innocents were killed and injured in both these firings.

While the law of the land says the firing to disperse the mob can be done only by the authorization of the magistrate or in the presence of the magistrate, the police are somehow exempted from this rule.  Though they have other options, they open fire.

In yet another incident, a policeman raped a minor who had eloped with her boyfriend to get married.  And the policeman pretended to play the Good Samaritan with the intention of raping the 16 yr old girl.

And the most recent case is that of the policemen raping 11 tribal women from the village Vakepalli.  And the women had to come to the capital of the State Hyderabad to file a complaint because no one there agreed to lodge the same.  And at the state, the chief officer calmly denied that policemen could ever do such a thing!!

Eventually it was the women’s organizations that took up the case and an enquiry is going on.    

The duty of the police is to minimize damage and injury.  And preserve human life.  But our cops are hell bent on acting in the reverse. 

And the unforgettable arrest of nearly 20 Muslim youth after the bomb blasts.  These youth have been kept under illegal detention, not in police stations but in resorts on the outskirts of Hyderabad!! There they were tortured in the most inhuman manner that is so like the police. And parallels have been drawn to the kind of tortures that were carried out in the Nazi concentration camps! 

 The police wanted the boys, most of whom are students to admit to belong to terrorist outfits! The youth have been released after nearly 2 months and after much coercion, an enquiry is said to be set up.

 The law however says that no person can be held in detention for more than 24 hours without being produced before a magistrate.  And the person arrested has a right to know the grounds for his arrest and to be represented by a lawyer of his/her choice.

The protectors of the law break the laws! The law is but a puppet in their hands.  Rules and regulations are meant for us ordinary mortals; the cops behave as if they are above the law! And get away with it too!!

And from the past few months, the newspapers have carried horrendous tales of honour killings in Haryana,Uttar pradesh, etc.  And the police have conveniently termed those killings as suicides/heart attacks.

The law makers and law enforcers are expected to be above social prejudice! To uphold the dignity of the khakhi uniform! To uphold and respect the consitution of the country!

Yesterday’s newspaper showed a picture of three women constables riding a two-wheeler!!!

Shhhhhhhhhhh…. Freeze… or the cops gonna open fire!!

No, there is not going to be any disclaimer here.  Every word here is true and based on facts.