VIOLENT POLITICS, BRUTAL COPS, DAREDEVIL MEDIA-SOME POINTS TO PONDER

Agartala, Jul 12, 2011 : The sweeping violence committed by both political activists and policemen virtually on Monday turned the city a completely law less zone and brought to fore complete collapse of administrative control of the situation for several hours. While the Congress workers ran amok , they resorted to brick batting, burnt vehicles and injured policemen, on the other hand the TSR jawans misbehaved with senior officials and, worse, went berserk opening random fire at will. Such violence by political activists and unruly actions on the part of the regimented TSR were not only unheard of, and uncalled for, but also warrant immediate in depth review of the situation and administrative competence for common good.

The panic that swept the city and the way police failed to maintain law and order despite adequate deployment of forces and palpable tension that was evidently swelling in the ‘silent procession’ spoke volumes of poor handling of the situation.

Death of Papai Saha-an innocent civilian not involved in any hostility- by TSR firing was the most unfortunate of outcome of the Monday violence.

As the situation stands, the violence had its root on brutal police action committed on Sunday on Congress workers and media persons. Given the prevailing mood it was quite expected that the Silent Procession might eventually turn extremely aggressive with slightest provocation. Notwithstanding the question from where the provocation indeed came- from the TSR or from within the Congress workers- the fact remained that the Congress activists did storm the West Agartala Police station virtually without any obstructions raining down stones and bricks on men in uniform and then ransacked the police hub.

At the initial stage under the fusillade of brick batting police personnel and TSR jawans armed with only ‘lathis’ and helmet had to retreat and take shelter. And as the Command centre-the police station ‘fell’ the situation simply went out of control with a tail spin effect. Outside the police station both the Congress workers and the policemen including TSR got engaged in pitched battles on their own as loose cannons. None –neither the Congress leaders nor the police officials seemed to have minimum control on their respective people.

It was at that point of time the TSR jawans acted in a manner which was wholly unbecoming of a regimented force. They not only disobeyed the senior officials but also threatened them openly. They forced the Police station officials to open the armour and hand over them their own fire arms. TSR personnel who till that point had by and large been at the receiving end and had only stones littered on roads to throw back at the protestors and lathi charge on small groups, now got their weapons and without any order or giving any second thought went ahead with their guns blazing down on people indiscriminately. They fired blank and they fired straight. As the armed TSR ran wild the situation aggravated and panic gripped the city.

Questions could be asked whey tear shells were not fired first ( heard one tear shell was fired but it did not give the smoke)to disperse the mob, why coordinated and planned lathi charge- a common police action for mob control all over the world- was no launched, why water cannons were not used, why Fire fighters and ambulances were not kept stand by. These questions had to be answered by the people at the helm of affairs.

It does not need to study Tsan Szu to understand that the entire law and order strategy for the last two days relating to Congress movement on TMC administration was inadequate. While beating of media persons engaged in professional duties despite knowing their identities not only painted a brutish image of the police but on Monday the inept handling of the situation was all the more pathetic. It also puts a serious question mark at their professional competence.

For the last few years TSR was being used for urban law and order maintenance. But serious thoughts were never given on some points.

First, the TSR was specifically raised for counter insurgency operations and they were considered ‘best’ among all the forces and at par with Grey Hounds of AP when it came to taking on the militants. But they were never imparted crowd or mob control specific training adequately.

Second, it was found that whenever they were deployed, the concerned police station would send them without fire arms. Their fire arms would be kept under lock and key in the armour. They would be given a helmet and a lathi.

Third, usually they were put under direct order of a Police officer at the rank of SI, Inspector or DSP or Additional SP, not under their own TSR commanders. On Monday all these common practices were put in place while using the TSR.

The justification to set the TSR without firearms for crowd control was based solely on the assumption that since the TSR was always known to be a striking force, it might inherently make them trigger happy and in turn might cause unwarranted and uncalled for firing. But the fact that was conveniently forgotten was that without arms TSR jawans remained virtually naked and helpless. The fire arms they carry were part of their wholesome existence in the eyes of public. An armed TSR would always stand different and general people would look at them with awe. The jawans with their reputation would carry an air filled with an element of uncertainty and also raise confidence level among the general public - which in turn would always prevent use of actual force. That was the basic idea of ‘Flag March’ of the army conducted in critical situation. The TSR on Monday were deprived of that air- and element of awe and uncertainty and they were virtually reduced to at par with home guards or simple police constable. Result with spill over effect was there all to see. Had there been armed TSR deployed all along , it can be said without hesitation that the violent Congress workers or mob would have thought twice to brickbat them and force their way into the police station.

Had there been the TSR commanders were put on charge of the TSR it could be safely said they would have not disobeyed their own officers stationed at West PS and gone so wild and opened fire causing death and creating panic.

On the other hand look at the efficiency, competence and professionalism of the media persons, specially the photojournalists. They were severely beaten and assaulted by the police and TSR only 24 hours ago. Despite that they – if not rare but certainly in a commendable daredevil show of professionalism they had managed to penetrate deep into the confrontation zone and got photographed of the entire situation-frame by frame and shot by shot.

One point should also be considered –the disadvantageous location of the West Agartala Police station. Situated right on the bend of the square it had its inherent problem for putting up barricades at considerable and strategic distance to stop incoming or swelling crowd or mob . When in early fifties the West Police Station was set up situation and geographical position of the area was totally different. Now with the Congress Bhawan located just at oppose direction any time there could be a gathering of political activists. Besides, the police from West PS just cannot watch it from their posts as the tank and the memorial obstruct the views. Aprt from that in all sides several high rise buildings also make it more vulnerable.

It is high time that keeping in mind the disadvantageous position of the West PS some strategy is devised forthwith. When the PS itself is protected and safe –which was not on Monday-the policemen can concentrate on their tasks more carefully and efficiently.

Going by the trend and recent revival of the Congress spirit following the fall of Red Bastion in West Bengal, similar aggressive demonstrations would be more on card in near future. It is now to be seen how the political executives and police and administration in general perform their duties or just make more mistakes only to complicate the situation, politically and otherwise. I remember two scenes of West Bengal : Policemen rejoicing shamelessly when they ‘recaptured’ their Lalgarh police station from Maoists. And the other one was of most ludicrous show of shamelessness --an IG donning his uniforms, stars and Ashok Stambh and cross batons giving interview to TV covering his face by a ‘towel’. Those were the days in West Bengal.