Letters to the Editor: Police and public relations

A jurist once observed that police must obey the law while enforcing the law. The recent back-to back-incidents in the State involving police, showing them on the wrong side of the law, are all manifestations of a problem allowed to fester by successive Central and State Governments. Images of assault on a biker by a group of uniformed cops in front of his family and in full view of public, merciless beating of a juvenile inside a police station by a policeman while his colleagues watch in amusement, an OC thrashing a senior Government servant who, ironically, came to lodge a complaint etc., in the State are neither new nor isolated in nature, but familiar across India. In Assam, these unfortunate events are all the more troubling as these have emerged despite the Chief Minister time and again exhorting the police to be friendly with ordinary citizens but harsh only with hooligans and history-sheeters.

In order to address the issue of police excesses, the foremost requirement is the implementation of police reforms in toto as recommended by several committees. These reports have been gathering dust for years now. Granting autonomy to the force to make it a fully professional one and insulating it from political interference is reported to be one of the suggestions of the committee. This being a politically sensitive matter, which none of the political parties in India have forcefully advocated for obvious reasons, the recommendation remains a non-starter. Similarly, not much traction has also been witnessed in other equally important matters like augmentation of police personnel as per UN norms, improvement of service conditions, particularly regulated working hours and mandatory weekly off-days which have potential benefits for productivity and efficiency. Though the present State Government has taken some welcome initiatives in this direction, tangible results are not evident on the ground.

The State Government is keen on fostering cordial police public-relations to curb crimes and maintain peace in society. But unless police respect the law and the Constitution and Government facilitates the creation of a congenial working environment for the highly-stressed police force, it will be difficult to achieve that objective. The hapless citizens will continue to bear the brunt of an insensitive law-enforcement force.

Rajib Sarma,

Guwahati.

Rising prices

Through esteemed newspaper, I would like to highlight that rising prices is turning into a crucial issue nowadays. One needs to live from hand to mouth. It has constrained individuals to carry on with a hopeless life. Necessities are being sold at exorbitant costs. The hardest hit is the everyday person, or at least, the normal purchasers and the sub-optimal buyers, or we can say the working class individuals and needy individuals. Because of price rise, the acquisition of fundamental products like rice, sugar or drugs and so forth is past the span of one's pocket. Not just the cost is expanded for the fundamental products, yet in addition gas costs, raw petroleum costs, diesel costs are additionally ascending high step by step, including rising electricity costs. What comes in one's grasp is just frustration. Previously, it was said that a poor person can have chapatti and dal in his food. However, presently he/she cannot figure out how to eat twice a day. One of the fundamental drivers with respect to rising costs is the population growth. The population of our nation is expanding at a disturbing rate. We have more than 100 crore individuals living in India. Consequently, more and more individuals are consuming greater amounts of the items. Different elements adding to rising costs are inadequate conveyance framework, wastage, extravagant consumption and so on. One of the main impacts of rising costs on the average person is that he can have just restricted measure of the products and necessities. Destitute individuals are not even able to purchase items for everyday food consumption. There is a need for providing monetary help to poor people, to give sponsorship and to build efficiency in order to tackle the issue.

Dhiraj Borah,

Cotton University.

Overbridge required

There is a necessity to construct an overbridge at the Rangia Tiniali railway crossing in Rangia town in the district of Kamrup in order to alleviate the problems of the public, students, employees and patients. The Rangia Tiniali railway crossing is on the Rangia-Bhutan National Highway and traffic jams occur on this road whenever the gate is closed. The Rangia Tiniali railway crossing is closed almost twice an hour due to rail traffic, which results in traffic jams on the Rangia-Bhutan National Highway. A railway overbridge at the Rangia Tiniali railway crossing will ease traffic jams. It is our earnest hope that the authority of the NF Railway will consider constructing a railway overbridge at the Rangia Tiniali railway crossing.

Maheswar Deka,

Rangia.

Kashmir, the seventh heaven

During our student days we were told that Kashmir is the seventh heaven of the world because of its mesmerizing scenic beauty. It was also known as the 'Switzerland of the East'. Tourists from all over the globe flock to Kashmir to enjoy Nature's beauty, thus promoting the tourism industry which, in turn, helped the local populace financially. But after the invasion of pro-Pakistani Islamic terror groups, the very same Kashmir has become hell, thus becoming an epicenter of terrorism. Interestingly the self-styled masters of Kashmir, the Abdullahs and Muftis were leading a charmed life at the cost of nation's tax-payers' money. Because of the Abdullahs in particular, the family friend of Nehru clan (who were also Kashmiri Pandits) had become a slaughter house of the innocent Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s. History will never forgive them.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.