First picture: A firefighter struggling with a fire hose?
Extinguishing a fire.
Second picture: A woman on the street with a broom in her hand?
Getting ready to sweep the road.[break]
Third picture: A policeman stopping a vehicle?
Fishing for some cash!
This is what most people would answer.
If one observes the makeup of Nepal Police, one will discover that 40% of the 60,000-strong force is occupied by administrative work. Ten percent of them are either on leave or deployed in UN Missions abroad. And the remaining 50%, i.e., 30,000 policemen and women provide security to the 30 million citizens in Nepal.
As per international practice, a policeman is assigned to provide security for 300 people. In Nepal, if the number of police force out in the field is to be weighed against the total population, the police-population ratio is 1:1,000. And with minimum facilities and incentives, Nepal’s finest fill in as long as 18 hours a day to shoulder their responsibilities.
Still, why is it that they are the ones who are the most defamed?
An institution’s success and credibility is evaluated on account of people’s trust on it. More so for the police who must work closely with the common people; and the trust, belief and faith in the institution would be the most valued asset. But things are different with Nepal Police.
Instead of being an entity that follows and enforces the law in the society, Nepal’s police force has an image of misusing law and the power bestowed upon them by the people. No wonder hence for such urban slang like dande, ghusyaha and kaamchor. As per the Police Act and Regulations, they are the defenders of law and society, but with their behavior, it rarely seems so.
Why? The reasons are clear – the corrupt image that majority of them have, lack of loyalty and commitment to their profession and institution as well as irresponsible conduct.
It’s not that there are no policemen who are faithful and have attained a good repute. But the number is negligible. Additionally, even the positive efforts have been narrowed down as their attempt in image building and becoming heroes is clearly a temporary trend or self promotion.
Contrary to Nepal Police’s motto of “Satya, Sewa, Surakshya” (Truth, Service, Security), the behavior, manner and conduct of most in the police is otherwise. Innocent people seem to be getting undeserved punishment and the guilty roam freely. Given the context, it’s questionable if they’ve even heard of the word called “service.”
While the police are supposed to be providing service to the citizens, the scenario is exactly the opposite. The sight of police officers should offer us a sense of security but commoners see them as a sign of alarm and instead fear their presence. Such is the irony.
If people had a sense of respect and appreciation for police, they wouldn’t just be bystanders and watch a criminal run past them while the police desperately chase or when a traffic police on duty is beaten up by an angry commuter. People are indifferent for a reason, or what can better explain their muteness while their own protectors end up in trouble. If they felt any belongingness, they would stand up for their protectors.
But very few would believe that a traffic policeman would be beaten up for trying to do his duty right at the checkpoint. Most would presume that he got beaten up because he was asking for some easy money.
A person’s image is built on the basis of what’s seen and perceived of him on a daily basis. And what’s seen and heard of the police on a daily basis are instances which label them more and more unpopular among people.
People have stopped believing that police are meant to catch culprits because they’ve seen the police walking hand in hand with the most dangerous of criminals reported to have fled. From the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to constables, a long line of them have been charged for corruption. The number of them involved in murder, looting and rape is also on the rise.
On Monday this very week, the Special Court convicted three former chiefs of the Nepal Police in the Sudan scam that defamed Nepal internationally and tarnished the institutional image of Nepal Police.
The general impression that people have of police is ill-tempered. They don’t know how to talk politely at all and it’s almost as if the mantra is that the more bad-tempered one is and the coarser one’s language is the better police one becomes.
With their rough look and reckless lifestyle, most people already perceive them as rogues. But even those who go to the police with reserved respect towards them are disappointed right away with their crude behavior.
Say you have to meet the head of a police station and your bad day starts right there. The assistant outside will order you to wait, stating that “Sir” is busy with some work. Without a waiting area, you lean against the wall and hear the loud voices of the heads and the chief is wasting time in an unnecessary chitchat.
If somehow you finally get to meet them, they’ll start making demands for even the simplest of official work. The daring ones will make demands directly; some will beat around the bush. Their behavior makes you feel that you’re dealing with cunning middlemen in real estate business rather than individuals of an institution that has been granted the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the society.
The police working for common people and for which the state spends hundreds of millions, currently work like private offices where a price is stated for each work. Police stations thus represent torture and insult. No wonder, enemies wish each other a day of torment at the police station.
The state definitely didn’t form such a body to spread fear and threat among its citizens. But one has to admit so, given the context and the reputation police officers have.
The situation is rotten right from the beginning, though. Prior to selection of the new recruits, rather than the skills and abilities of the individuals, source-force, and nepotism and under the table dealings determine their fate in the police force. Due to which, those who do understand the duty and responsibility of a true policeman and are capable of working fairly, get stuck in the mire that has entangles deep within the system. And besides recruitment, transfer and promotion process also depends on one’s political backup and source-force.
According to the Police Act, the head of the institution leads all the operations. The officials from Home Ministry and other government departments are only facilitators. But that’s in theory. What’s actually happening is that those who have to take leadership are working as facilitators and the supposed facilitators have grabbed the reins instead. As such, police officers who are not blessed with the favors of political leaders become helpless orphans.
Almost every individual who enters the police force accepts this as their guru mantra – the mantra of mantras to follow. Hence, even for the facilities that should be easily available from the institution along with periodical promotion, they have to queue up at the doorsteps of politicians.
And these knavish politicians in return of their favor will use and abuse the police officials for their interest at high costs. The police, too, by giving in to every whim and demand of these politicians, get caught up in a mess so deep that they can never get out of it.
Most decisions are taken on the basis of recommendations from political power centers rather than institutional procedures. Hence, policemen are unwilling to believe that the institutional chain of command will be able to provide them any justice. The power centers then never miss a chance to take advantage of this situation.
Due to this, policemen are more loyal to the power-center officials than their own institution’s head. Senior officials in the police force thus become only effigies who gather salutes but not actual allegiance.
Because of the lack of transparency in recruitment and selection process of the police force, there are more corrupt people in the institution. Monetary gains and unscrupulous deals mark their earning so much that they think it’s impossible to get anything done in the sector without money, right from the recruitment process.
Hence, every police officer who enters the institution is thinking right from the beginning as to how he can make up for the amount he spent to get into the sector and the extra money spent to grab a good position, the money spent to get a transfer and promotion, and so on. And all that amount one will try to raise either from ordinary citizens by giving them numerous troubles or from the criminals who will offer any amount one demands in return of a bailout.
Nepal Police has become like a mud house that looks sturdy from the outside but is growing hollow within and will soon collapse. It’s the institution’s members who have destroyed its image and the reconstruction for improvement has to start from themselves.. If they want to prevent a collapse, they have to change their thinking, conduct and priorities.
To bring the police force that has developed a habit of tail-wagging behind politicians into the right track, there’s no alternative other than taking strict actions against all corrupt officials.
The start has to be from the institutional chief or head. The responsible policymakers have to focus on developing the right policies. Instead of paying visits to ambassadors and politicians and attending dinner invitations of industrialists, they have to shift their efforts on improving the institution’s image and profile.
If we calculate the number of manpower in the institution, half of the total number i.e., 35,231, are police constables. 11,176 are head constables. There are 5,729 Assistant Sub Inspectors, 3,170 Sub Inspectors, and 1,130 Inspectors. According to this data, the number of policemen who directly tackle and work amongst the citizens is 56,437 whereas the number of police officials above Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) ranges within 2,000.
The ones who get mixed up in the daily lifestyle of the ordinary citizens are policemen from the lower ranks. If improvements can be made in the manners and behavior of just these policemen, the image of the police will get better. But to even bring any improvements in these policemen, firstly, it’s important that the 2,000 in the higher ranks get their act together as well.
Based on the training they receive during their admission, they have to serve at least 30 years. Once they’ve taken these training, rarely do they get a chance to sit for another session. But it’s important that they receive more training as per changing times. Moreover, these training courses have to be revised so as to produce proper and capable police.
The government as well has a responsibility to fulfill here. To break the trend where cash, political patronage and recommendations have become a dominant factor in the transfers and promotions of police personnel, the government has to take on the responsibility of immediately forming a quasi-judicial Police Service Commission.
A weak police force is an indicator of a weak nation. In order to strengthen all the systems of a nation, it’s important to firstly strengthen the law enforcement body. Therefore, the Police Act should be amended in such ways that the institutional head cannot be replaced through a Cabinet decision, thereby giving him greater control. It’s time the political leaders who pride themselves in being surrounded by security personnel feel some shame of misusing the service.
Instead of letting political leaders and officials siphoning off the budget, the government should focus that the budget is utilized to provide for the services, facilities and means to the police force. It’s still not too late for the government to send out a positive message that it’s concerned about the institution.
Besides, the police should be able to internalize the belief Tapainko surakshya, Hamro Dayitwa (Your security is our responsibility) rather than Tapainko surakshya, Hamro chahana (Your security is our wish). Maybe then the failing image of Nepal Police can be turned around for the better. Or else, what can one do to save a
sinking ship?Dhungana is a correspondent for Nagaraik Nepali daily and has been reporting on crime, law and order for 11 years.
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