Kolkata: Recent incidences of abuse of power by the ruling party have made the men in uniform feel insecure in West Bengal.
Whether it is state Minister Rachhpal Singh asking his security guard to tie his shoelace or Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee’s niece threatening a police officer for allegedly stopping a car driven by her companion who was drunk.
“The morale of the men is certainly down. Everyday there are reports of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers ransacking police station or even physically abusing officials for doing their duty,” a senior official said.
What has further demoralised the force is the fact that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has openly supported the mayor’s niece, Debapriya Chatterjee, and blamed officers for being corrupt, even suggesting that “they [police] all need counselling.”
“It was an incident involving some little girls. How can the police snatch their driving licence? I am sympathetic to the police. But just as a section of politicians are not honest, a section of policemen, too, are not honest. We have to deal with them,” Mamata told reporters when questioned about the issue.
On Monday, the TMC hawkers’ union lynched a Railway Protection Force constable who objected to hawking on the railway platform. The Eastern Railway officials have openly claimed that the state government has not provided them with any help.
On the contrary, Mamata had publicy supported the cause of the hawkers. “We are sympathetic towards hawkers. Railways should have informed us that they are taking such steps. They also should keep in mind that it’s an issue of livelihood for these men.”
“If the chief minister, who is also the state’s home minister, makes such statements, which goes against the men in uniform, it will be difficult for them to enforce the law of the land. The morale is down and lower-ranking officials want seniors to speak on behalf of them,” a senior official of the Kolkata police said. Unfortunately, senior officials rant in private that the chief minister hardly listens to them and is often seen giving orders without thinking of the pros and cons.
Opposition leader Surya Kanta Mishra of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, has retorted: “The chief minister too needs counselling.”
“She [Mamata] is a kind of a lady who walked into a hospital and gave doctors advice on what medicine to prescribe. No wonder she will interfere in the working of police on day-to-day affairs,” Mishra said.
Instances of assault on policemen and vandalising of police stations by Trinamool Congress-backed goons have become common in the state. Traffic police are being physically abused by politicians and hooligans.
“Officers have become reluctant to enforce law because we get a call from a minister even if we catch someone riding a bike without wearing a helmet. In one incident, a cabinet minister visited the police station to release a person caught for drunken driving,” a Kolkata police officer said, requesting anonymity.
“If this continues, we could see a revolt among the rank and file. Already many have applied to leave the state. Others may follow soon,” another senior official said.
