Indian Police- Equipped to get Killed

IF WE visit any developing country we will be surprised to see that the Indian policemen are the only policemen in world who are equipped with the lathi (magic wand for our government which thinks that the lathi is mightier than terrorists’ weapons!). Our policemen are one of most ill-equipped even after 60 years of independence and numerous years of fighting terrorism.

Seriously, the Indian police appear to be unfit, unprepared, under-trained, poorly motivated due to meager salary and inept training. Poor working conditions, basic surveillance and communications equipment, inadequate forensic science laboratories and outdated weaponry only make matters worse. They appear like comical figures carrying their outdated .303 rifles or self-loading rifles and heavy leather shoes like those adopted by the British Army in the 1950s. India is one of the “least policed” places in the world, with 126 officers per 100,000 people, compared with 225-550 per 100,000 in most Western countries.

Our police force should be better equipped. A normal policeman’s duty goes as far as burglars and small time crimes, but they should be equally capable of performing better in high-risk operations – serving high-risk arrest warrants, hostage rescue, counter-terrorism, and engaging heavily-armed criminals – that fall outside their routine duties. They should be equipped with specialized firearms including assault rifles, machine guns, shotguns, carbines, riot control agents, stun grenades, and high-powered rifles and snipers.

In the past few years, the face of terrorism has changed beyond recognition. The urban terrorists rely heavily on sophisticated communications equipment and information technology of which the ordinary policemen in India have no idea. These terrorists speak several languages, handle different and far deadlier weapons with ease and are trained far more professionally.

They are also highly motivated and have a much better understanding of international politics and diplomacy. Our ordinary police are neither trained nor educated enough and are not fully prepared to meet challenges posed by present day terrorism. In such circumstances, it is difficult for the police to act against terrorists effectively. These men must also be highly motivated and their sense of duty and bravery must be of the highest order, if they have to protect the citizens of our vast nation.