The Bengaluru agglomeration is now in focus across the country for all the wrong reasons, with cases of groping of young women in some prominent areas during the New Year revelry hogging the limelight much to the chagrin of the government and in particular, the Bengaluru city police.
Even as some of political leaders are seeking to twist the acts of the habitual offenders as that of moral policing, it is quite evident that the Bengaluru police did not work to an oft-repeated exercise in detaining the persons who normally figure in anti-social activities in the hours preceding the New Year celebrations. Thus, 2017 has got off to a bad start for the government of the day and more so, for Home Minister G. Parameshwara, who has stated that he was misquoted for his remarks on the incidents.
Bengaluru has been witness to New Year revelry, at times with a vulgar display by youth ostensibly in an inebriated state, for nearly four decades, and with every passing year, the celebration has only extended to new areas, although initially it was restricted to the erstwhile cantonment areas. In recent years, even young women have joined the revelry, adding to the difficulties of the police in maintaining law and order, given the fact that most youth turn up with liquor bottles in hand.
Lethargy of police
In the latest instance, a clear pointer to the complaints of molestation has been the lethargy of the police in taking quick action, leave alone the incidents which smack of moral degeneration. There is nothing wrong per se in youth celebrating the dawn of the New Year, but then utilising the opportunity for pervert activities is unacceptable.
It should be noted that despite all pressure exerted on them, the police refrained from granting permission to extend the time limit for the New Year celebrations till 5 a.m. similar to an approval given by the government of Maharashtra. One common complaint was, however, that the police remained mute spectators in most areas where a section of the youth went berserk.
The time has come for the Bengaluru police to pull their socks up and be on patrol whether or not there is a threat to law and order. In recent years, the police, more so the traffic police, are hardly seen at traffic intersections, resulting in violations being a common sight. Incidentally, a large number of CCTV cameras have been installed across the city, but most of them are either defunct or their recordings ignored.
Huge task on hand
The new Commissioner of Police, Praveen Sood, who incidentally took charge just prior to the New Year revelry, has a huge task on hand. While a high level of corruption is the bane of the system, the police have to understand that they are a law enforcement agency to work for the good of society and people, and not merely restrict their work to the demands of political leaders and VVIPs. The Bengaluru police require a transformation in their work, and it is for Mr. Sood to guide them and ensure that they live up to the expectations of people.
(The writer is Resident Representative, The Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy, Bengaluru)
