72% of police officers have felt political pressure during probes
Staff Reporter / New Delhi
A study released by former Supreme Court judge Justice Chelameswar, here Tuesday has found that the police’s attitude towards minorities has been problematic in India, with 50 per cent of the cops feeling that Muslims are naturally prone to committing crimes.
One in the two police personnel surveyed feel that Muslim are likely to be ‘ naturally prone’ to committing crimes, the ‘Status of Policing in India Report 2019: Police Adequacy and Working Conditions’ found.
The study also found that 35 per cent of police personnel interviewed for the survey think it is natural for a mob to punish the “culprit” in cases of cow slaughter, and 43 per cent think it is natural for a mob to punish someone accused of rape.
The survey found that three in four police officers feel it is justified for the police to be violent towards criminals, while four of five believe there is nothing wrong with the police beating up criminals to extract confessions.
The study also stated that 72 per cent of police officers have experienced political pressure while investigating cases involving influential persons.
Speaking on the occasion Justice Chelameswar, also alluded to political pressure on the justice system, saying: “We were talking about police officers being transferred… how many of us know why chief justices are being transferred in this country?”
The study, titled has been conducted by the NGO Common Cause, and the Lokniti programme of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS).
It relies on a survey of 11,834 officers from police stations across 20 states and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It also includes responses from 10,535 family members of police officers.
Chelameswar referred to a few cases that he adjudicated upon as a judge to highlight shortcomings among police officers, such as ignorance of law and lack of adequate training.
However, on the issue of independence of the police force, he said: “That is a problem which needs to be handled carefully, because in a system of representative democracy, to say that the government should have no say in these matters perhaps is an extreme proposition. But at the same time, to what extent they should have a say is a matter to be regulated.”
The other speakers at the event were Aruna Roy, founder of Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan, Prakash Singh, former DGP of UP and Assam, and Vrinda Grover, human rights lawyer.