The outdated 19th century Police Laws that are regulatory in nature are the bane of the Indian police force. It is, still, slanted to favouring the powers that be rather than protecting the ordinary citizen and maintaining law and order. Coupled with poor salaries and working conditions the police at the lower rung look to taking the easy way out resulting in harassing the citizens who distrust these men in uniform. At a time when there is contempt and cynicism about the force for perpetuating brutality, being passive spectators for riotous behaviour with the mob taking law into their hands, it is a pleasant surprise to hear of police officers who think beyond the ordinary to harness the immense potential of involving committed citizens of the area to assist them. It is the CITIZEN QUOTIENT that Discover Bangalore celebrates and salutes.

Our special correspondent Githa. U. Badikillaya interacts with two highly motivated citizens of Frazer town who caught a king pin and his 7 member gang involved in a series of thefts in Bangalore East and were eluding the men in Khaki for quite some time. The two conscientious citizens who took COMMUNITY POLICING the area to new heights were honoured by the City Police Commissioner. There is some amount of Citizen Quotient in Bangalore to make a common cause for the fight against unlawful activities and to respect the law. Before the next victim could be YOU, dear netizen it is very much the need of the hour not only to be vigilant but ACT.

As I go in search of these two Samaritans, I marvel at their courage in expending time and energy for a job that has few takers, when most of the time we, the citizens do not bother to lend that timely help to save a life or raise our voices against injustice for fear of unnecessarily being harassed and dragged to the police station or the courts.

It’s the unfolding of a thriller as I listen to M.Chandrashekar and Alex Rodriguez recounting the sequence of the nabbing of Firoze and his gang who were notorious in stealing ultra modern/heavy duty sewing/button stitching machines, motor pumps from garment factories and utensils from community places besides two cars used by the gang. During the day the gang surveyed garment factories and other industrial sheds and would break into the premises under cover of darkness. In most cases, they used gas cutters to remove grills, and entered from the rear door.

Doddigunta has grown to a 2000 strong community from a small village a few years ago that had 50-60 houses to become very much a part of the adjoining Cox town in the eastern parts of Bangalore under the jurisdiction of the Frazer Town Police limits. M.Chandrashekar (58) born and brought up here nurtured an ambition to join the police force which could not be fulfilled as he discontinued his studies after PUC. “My father, grandfather and uncles were into social service in our area, ensuring peace by sorting the problems/disputes of the community without police intervention. Being a part of these negotiations I continue doing the same. Being economically comfortable I am a committed social worker, being able to give my quality time to the community. I have realized the dreams of countless youngsters in love, getting them married with the blessings of parents”. This concept of gram panchayati where in the villagers brought their problems to the village elder who gave a solution or amicably solved the dispute is what the founders of Janaagraha (earlier DB special feature) were driving at, to realize the power of WE.

“I familiarized with police work and the officers in Frazer Town police station as I’d come to release the village people from police custody for two decades. My guru was Jeevraj Alva (deceased Karnataka minister and a charismatic leader) having worked with him in my impressionable young age and seen him at close quarters, I absorbed some of his admirable qualities of social service and this interest in the community became a part of my life. We have helped the police in small cases but this is a real break through for us as we worked alongside the police”.

Police officer Mr.Riyaz Ahmed involved the duo in community policing and richly deserves credit for reposing full confidence in Chandra Anna and Alex. Mr.Riyaz listed the probable places that the gang would be operating and furnished their photos as the culprits could identify the police in mufti too and because of the duo’s understanding of how the force works they were the preferred choice to track the thieves.

Chandrasekhar further adds “We cornered Firoze, the king pin in a phone booth as he was making a marathon call. Through him another 6 members of the gang were nabbed. We alerted the police and bundled him into our jeep and handed him to the police.

On a note of finality he ends “We are looking forward to working on another case. I’ve been asked to grow a beard so that I will not be easily recognizable. We find the police decent and gentle contrary to the image the public has about them. I am trying to motivate youngsters to do community policing. With involvement of the public in policing their respective areas alongside the police, crime will come down 100%. I am very sure about this. If every citizen co- operates law and order will be maintained. But many people do not want to be involved in much of community happenings.”

Alex Rodriguez (39) born and brought up in Bombay, calls himself uneducated having passed 7th standard, but has traveled across nations as part of his business- an experience that mere degrees cannot provide. He is an automobile spare parts dealer having worked for sometime in the automobile industry at Japan and is married to a Bangalorean. He has a dream to start a trust in memory of his mother.

With enthusiasm he says “I have some police contacts and used to come to Frazer town for the last 3 years and met Chandra Anna 6 months back. Since I place premium on ethics I readily joined the police team that was going on a case and the police also placed their trust in the two of us. One morning we found Firoze going in an auto with his family but could not apprehend at that time due to constrains of law, so we had to wait till the next day when he was alone in a phone booth, then we passed the info to the police. Firoze, Shahjahan, Babu, Raza Khan etc were caught. They robbed garment machines, button stitching machines and sold it at Thrissur. By tracing the receivers of the stolen goods we could seize 52 sewing machines and lots of vessels that are used in community celebrations amounting to Rs.35 lakhs. Everything was brought to the police station and the owners are coming daily identifying and taking their possessions. These details were given at the time of interrogation.

As to my query that were they not afraid of the repercussion of their action he says- “We have not faced any problem from them as we treated them with courtesy, that they addressed us as bhayyas (brothers in Hindi). We explained to them that this sort of a life is worthless, and only hard work will see them through. We provided food and clothes when we took them around to trace the stolen items. It was poverty that drove them to take an easy way out. I volunteer because I like to do such a community service. I don’t know the mentality of these youngsters”.

A pertinent question raised by Alex is after serving their term what is it, the offenders are going to do? What rehabilitation measures the police department is taking? It is back to square one to again go the same way?

They are both exited that they will be shortly designated as special police officers - a small but timely recognition for their efforts which will no doubt keep them motivated.

Their message for DiscoverBangalore visitors-- Please join hands with us; strengthen the police force by being vigilant that helps in our own safety.

Societal mobilization is little known in our State, let alone the city, and even if it does take place it is restricted to pockets of urban life and life moves because it does not affect me. When was the last time we have galvanized ourselves to come out of inertia and take our responsibility as a citizen seriously, other than marathon discussions in drawing rooms and cafes? Do we sign our names on signature campaigns against corrupt politicians, officials, take accident victims to hospitals, or give sanctuary to a neighbour from the fury of communal mobs? Until and unless the CQ is internalized any of the aforesaid can happen to anyone of us.

githaub@yahoo.com

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