Human Rights Vs Police Rights - Special report

Policemen also have wife and kids says Hormis Tharakan

by R S Priya

Thiruvananthapuram Dec 10: Today is the International Human Rights Day. As a part of the Human Rights Day, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission day celebrations were inaugurated at Police Training College auditorium, Thycaud at noon 12. Kerala Chief Minister A.K.Anthony inaugurated the function. The function, which was intended to start at 11.30, was delayed following the death of renowned poet, M.P.Appan.

Mayor Chandra Faced Sexual Harassment in Kerala?

Trivandrum Mayor Prof J.Chandra, in her presidential address, spoke of the rights of women to live in society with equal rights as men do. Women have to face many hardships. In our society, women cannot get out of their homes after it gets dark, as it is not safe. In most of the other states, this is not the condition. Our society should be changed in this regard. Prof Chandra also remembered the hardships she herself had to face, while commuting from Trivandrum to Kayamkulam. Some men disturbed her in the bus, but she had to endure the whole thing throughout the long trip. Male attitude towards women should be changed. "Women need to go a long way to gain such a state in society, where they can be in equal term with men," she said.

In the case of child-labour also a large number of kids have work for their livelihood. Even if the members of the corporation try, they are unable to remove the beggars to the home for beggars, because of the fear of Human Rights Commission. Because of the fear of a single complaint to Human Rights Commission, the beggars are still roaming on the roads. This is despite the fact that free roaming of beggars and begging are not allowed.

Police Should not misuse Freedom : Antony

In his inaugural address, Chief Minister A.K.Anthony spoke of the police force in Kerala and said that Kerala Police have misused much of the freedom given to it. The atrocities towards people in Killi is a proof of this. Following this earlier the day, in a cabinet meeting, the government had taken the decision to suspend 8 police officials including a DYSP, a few circle inspectors and constables. "The police shouldn't misuse the freedom given to them. They shouldn't become lawbreakers. Therefore, a need has arisen to put a control on the activities of the police force," Antony said. It has been quite coincidental that, this inauguration took place at the Police Training College itself. A new mode of police group should evolve who would be more humanitarian in outlook and care for the rights of the common people.

No Chief Minister Except E M S Tried to Reform Police Form

Ex-minister P.K.Vasudevan who was also present on the occasion referred to the good old days of E.M.S Ministry, when for the first time reforming police force was part government agenda. But ever since that, no ministry has given proper attention to the reforming of the police force and never tried to make it more humanitarian. There are still lockup murders and deaths in custody. Many policemen still are imposing atrocities on the common people. Many of the complaints that the Human Rights Commission receives are against the police force.

Police -- Human Beings with Natural Instincts to react violently

Thiruvananthapuram Commissioner of Police, Hormis Tharakan in his speech clarified that after all police force is also a category of human beings. Every policeman has wife and children and they wouldn't impose any kind of cruelties on common people intentionally. At many times, especially during bandhs and hartals, when police asks activists of a particular party not to create problems, they don't listen. It is part of police duty to stop such violent activities and many times when they are attacked, they respond.

"After all they are human beings and the common nature of human beings is to respond when they are beaten. Even though it is important to have police discipline, at times policemen too show their inborn human qualities. Hormis Tharakan argued that it is sad that the media and politicians jointly criticize the police to give it a bad image to common people. "Policemen should also be considered as human beings. A policeman lost his eye during a bandh at Kozhikkode and a woman constable lost her teeth. Human Rights Commission never gave any kind of remuneration to them. Policemen should also be considered as part of human beings and shouldn't be considered as untouchables just because of a few bad happenings," he said

Members of the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, Federation of Residents Associations Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT), members of police force, social activists and members of other non-governmental organizations also attended the inauguration. -Keralamonitor.com

So how come Such Incidents Keep Happening in the State ?

This is to bring to your humane ears the tragic incident that occurred in the case of my son that I am sending you this missive.

"My son, along with his brother and his friend had gone out to spend the evening on Friday, the 10th of October, 2003. They had gone to spend the evening out and my elder son and his friend had had a few drinks. My younger son does not drink and he was not under the influence of alcohol. The city police pounced on these youngsters and took them into custody around 11 p.m. They were taken to the Cusba Police station and from there the ones who were under the influence of alcohol were taken to the hospital for medical verification of having taken alcohol." More