Amid farmers’ stir, spare a thought for cops

The situations which policemen have to handle are not their own creation, nor can they resolve it, yet they have to face the flak because they are the face of the government. In agitations, it becomes more difficult when the crowd breaks the law or the barricades. Fighting with own people is easier said than done. And yet no kudos, only brickbats. That is the irony of the situation.

Arm of law: The cops are always on tenterhooks in a volatile situation. PTI

BL Vohra

Former DGP, Tripura

Most of the people rightly sympathise with the agitating farmers camping at the borders of Delhi. They have been showing determination for over 50 days in this winter, freezing at times, with rain in between. Sitting there day and night, away from families and homes, is a big thing. But there is another group of people braving the same conditions day and night and in a much more difficult situation physically and psychologically, who deserve praise but hardly get it, and that is the police personnel of Delhi, Haryana, UP, and those belonging to the Central Armed Police Forces who are managing the agitation.

There are over 100 access roads to Delhi from Haryana and UP and by any stretch of imagination, guarding or taking care of these access points round the clock from both sides is a big task. At the main borders of Singhu and Tikri from the Haryana side, over one lakh farmers are camping, about 65,000 at the Singhu border and about 45,000 at the Tikri border. Then there are farmers at the Noida border and some at other borders. Almost 10,000 police personnel are deployed on either side of the border with Delhi who perform the duty of guarding the frontiers to prevent the entry of farmers into Delhi. The police personnel belong to the state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces like the CRPF, RAF, BSF, CISF and ITBP etc.

Whereas the farmers can do what they like during the day and sleep at night, most of the policemen have to stand guard at the barricades round the clock in uniform to keep a vigil. Just think about a policeman on the alert at the barricade at night in this freezing winter to do his duty when the farmers are sleeping under blankets! No complaints, of course, as it is his job. Moreover, he is always on tenterhooks, not knowing when the agitators may suddenly decide to cross the barricades. In fact, some of the policemen did get injured in a scuffle on November 27. The policemen also have to keep a watch on the activities of the protesters, especially to look out for the possible involvement of anti-social and anti-national elements.

There is also a bit of unseen hostility towards them as they are the face of the government. So, their task is quite challenging. Many of the policemen also spend sleepless nights, including at the higher levels, to ensure that peace remains. They are also confronting Covid-19 and many of them got infected, including senior police officials of the rank of DCP.

The policemen also help the farmers when in need. For example, when someone needs medical help or to facilitate their visits to Vigyan Bhawan for talks etc. Any reverse help is not welcome because then those agitating might say, and they did say in one case, that they are generous in looking after even their adversaries. There is another serious difficulty for the policemen belonging to Haryana. On the one hand, they rightly have sympathies with their farmer brother, and on the other, they are adversaries, being in the police. So, they have to face flak at home, in community and while commuting to their place of duty sometimes. Imagine their plight?

The challenge is not over yet. In fact, it is likely to have a serious dimension with January 26 approaching for which the farmers have resolved to march towards Delhi on tractors. The build-up will increase in the days to come unless the march is called off. It might lead to clashes with the police, howsoever much the policemen may avoid, as they will have to enforce the law. Sometimes, even a minor spark can flare up.

Let us give it to the policemen. They have handled this agitation so far with remarkable degree of patience and tact. They only match their wits with the farmers at barricades by use of containers, JCBs and other heavy stuff which can be rammed into with tractors by the farmers from the other side. No human touch is involved which is so heartening for all of us. Though they have anti-riot equipment with them and a few weapons as a show of strength, there hasn’t been much need to put these in use. Of course, there were complaints of use of water cannons on a few occasions but that can hardly be called use of a weapon by the police. Of course, farmers have also been quite cooperative by and large.

And this duty being performed by the policemen is in addition to their normal duties of crime investigation, traffic, patrolling, collection of intelligence and many other functions.

The situations which the policemen always have to handle are not their own creation, nor can they resolve it and yet they have to be inside and face the flak because they are the face of the government. In agitations, it becomes more difficult when the crowd breaks the law or the barricades. Fighting with own people is easier said than done. And yet no kudos, but only brickbats. That is the irony of the situation. Neither the politicians nor anyone else, including the media, praise their work. In fact, some only look for an opportunity to blame the police to secure brownie points forgetting that it is their own force. Let us at least raise a hand in their favour and appreciate them by clapping for what they do like the excellent work they did during the pandemic for which they are called warriors.