Illegal act of Police Officer and use of Diplomacy as a tool to counter it

It is said that Police Officers are friend to the citizen. However, I get to see the reality turning out to be different, at least in some parts of Tamil Nadu. I am making this statement only after myself having provided legal advice to the citizens, whose fundamental rights are violated and also humiliated by the illegal activities of the police officers. Things are worse to the extent that even a citizen whose rights are violated by the extra-judicial activities of the police officer also not ready to file a complaint against the said police officer out of fear of vendetta.

Therefore, I had to make sure that the innocent rural citizen’s rights are protected and at the same time, the concerned police officer not indulges in a vendetta against the said person. Hence, I used Diplomacy as a tool to counter the police officer in order to protect the dignity of the aggrieved citizen.

Incidence 

A Sub-Inspector of Police located at one of the police stations in the state of Tamil Nadu acted in an undignified manner with an innocent rural citizen. At the midnight of around 2 AM, he visited the residence of the citizen along with a constable and awoke when he was sleeping.

Communication between the Police Officer and a citizen:-

Police Officer: Against your name, a warrant is pending for execution with our Police Station

Citizen: (In a state of shock and in a raised voice) in which case sir? As for my knowledge is concerned, against me there is only one case. for that also the warrant was recalled by the magistrate last month itself”.

Police Officer: - (got offended and abused the citizen) don’t raise your voice. I will beat you with my feet, do you know who I am?... By the way, what is your educational qualification?”

Citizen:  “Xth Standard Sir”.

Police Officer:  I am an educated officer. I have three letters qualification… look here (by pointing to his name batch) ‘BCA’. Don’t try to be over smart. I am a police officer. Speak Politely before me.

Citizen: Sir I am not disrespecting you. Kindly let me know in which case do you have a warrant against me?

Police Officer: (After a conversation of over the phone with somebody to know the case details regarding which the allegedly warrant is pending for execution) Ok do come to the Police Station tomorrow (in a rude manner).

In this case, the citizen wanted my assistance in handling this officer without offending him. Therefore, I drafted a letter having the following contents:-

Firstly, I am not able to understand what is the reason for disturbing me while I was sleeping in my house that too in the middle of the night, that too by stating the fact, which is not at all true. 

Secondly, the Indian Constitution provides an equal right to all and nobody above the law, whether he is Doctorate or Uneducated, IAS officer, or Daily Labourer… nothing matters before the eyes of the law. In such a case how come your educational degree (B.C.A) would be a reason to humiliate me? It is none of my business to know your educational qualifications. You should understand that I have every right to ask questions when my rights are violated. In my view, you are a public servant, therefore, I addressed you as “Sir”. As far as my raised volume is concerned, I was in the state of shock hearing the warrant, that’s why I had to state the fact to you. You should understand that it is human nature to respond to the shocking news with a sound response. However, it is you, who without any respect to my age threatened to beat me by using vulgar language that too before my neighbours. You are the one who insulted me.

I have never afraid of insults because I have been bearing this many times for the past 6 years while fighting against corruption. So, these kinds of insults are not new to me.

I want to make it clear to you that, I may be studied till 10^th Standard in school, however, I have more experience than you, which the life has taught me in these 43 years. Therefore, I would humbly request you not to measure a citizen only by his educational qualification. The only purpose of this letter is to make you realize the mistake committed by you. Nothing else.

As advised, the aggrieved person sent the letter to the same Sub-Inspector. This diplomatic letter turned out to be successful in changing the attitude of the said Police Officer towards the above-said citizen, who is an anti-corruption activist as well. And nowadays, he treats this citizen with due respect and in fact, in his presence, the officer treats everybody cordially.

Although the above said officer’s conduct is a serious violation of human rights, citizens are not ready to come forward to fight against the illegal act of Police Officers due to fear of vendetta. Therefore, I had to limit myself with the diplomatic approach, wherein without any further inconvenience, the citizen got peace of mind.

#TamilNadu #TNPolice #Police #HumanRights #Diplomacy