The police chief reportedly told our proactive NGOs/women activists that they need not go onto the streets in protest like Kejriwal when they can discuss the matter with him! Chief Minister Kerjriwal had no option when Delhi police under the Centre did not act as he required similar to the Goa police when the cases/suggestions brought to them are ignored/not heeded or promptly acted upon. Whilst it is a fact that the St francis Xavier Exposition and IFFI simultaneously strained our police force, it is also a fact that crimes have increased by leaps and bounds whilst low standard prevention and detection clearly show that the force is not adequately trained or equipped to handle even daylight robberies and theft. Continuous duty,shortage of staff, tourism related ills leave the citizens whose safety is their prime responsibility, at the mercy of dacoits and robbers! We should be considering quality first and quantity required second as excuse. Consider the recent Bicholim police action on 7th Dec night chasing a car that sped away from a petrol pump without paying for filling up! It is reported that 2 PCR vans and a police Jeep after a hot chase for around 20Kms managed to close in on the culprits on either side of a bridge. They alighted to nab the culprits who reportedly rammed their vehicles clearing a way to mount the kerb and speed through. In the process one of their tyres burst and the culprits continued on the rim of the damaged wheel at high speed for around 8Km to abandon the car and escape! Instead of being pulled up, I am surprised to find the IGP is reportedly not only congratulating them for doing their job unsuccessfully and unprofessionally letting them escape from their grasp, but rewarding 12 cops and one home guard with Rs 19,000/- cash! Maybe they did not have pistols/guns or were short of bullets? The DGP admits to corruption in the force,and it appears like the Uber Taxi drivers, we are recruiting dubious police candidates with short trainning to close the shortages in quantity. In these days of terrorists attacks our police must be well recruited, equpiied and trained. Why is it we generally need a reward for just doing our duty, never aiming for high standards leave alone excellence in whatever we do?
