As news of Delhi police corruption and brutality and the AAPs fight to bring them under control flood our media, I thought this might be a good time to thank the Bombay police. Heres why A few days after the Delhi rape, I participated in a citizens protest on Carter road. Halfway through our march, a mob of AAP supporters tried to hijack, what was a peaceful protest, doing their best to turn it violent. My courage, good on paper, and untested in the field, would have given way had it not been for my friend Rajeev Acharya who shielded me like a rock, as did a column of Bombays finest police constables. Our angry words did not go unheard that day. Addl. commissioner Vishwas Nagre Patil joined us from his office down the street, listened to our loud and sometimes illogical demands and assured us of steps already taken and admitted there was along way to go, but that he was prepared to go the distance. When my neighbour, a single woman found her flat burgled, an entire phalanx of cops from Juhu police station made an appearance, conducted what looked to be a genuine investigation, interrogated the help with no hint of brutality and in all displayed no impropriety. Their parting shot- an appeal to install cctvs. Their words- Madam, help us help you. My father, now an eccentric senior citizen, drops into Byculla police station for reasons ranging from CID clearances to lost ration cards and chequebooks. He has never been treated with anything but utmost kindness and efficiency. I remember walking into JJ Marg Police station, as a young girl after a minor traffic altercation with another motorist. Again the police heard us both out and mediated a settlement. No bribe was sought or given. In the Shakti Mills rape case, the Bombay police gave the survivor no grief while filing the FIR. By the next day they had not only arrested the perpetrators, but one was fairly sure they were the right ones based on the girls identification. I did not join the protest that day. What was I to protest against? They had not only done their job, but had also promised better policing. A few months ago, two policemen at the beach refused to register an FIR by a woman manhandled by a stranger during her evening walk. Their seniors did not suspend or fire them. Instead they canceled their leaves and increased their patrolling duties. And that is why tonight as I made my way back from a walk on Juhu beach- a long walk free of fear, I decided it was time I thanked those responsible for making my city safe. Thank you every member of the Bombay police department. If any of you have any friends who are policemen, do share this with them. They deserve to know they are appreciated.
Posted on: Sat, 25 Jan 2014 15:11:35 +0000