Innovative way to promote Peace and justice

By Praveen Dixit on October 20, 2022

Praveen Dixit, IPS

e-mail:pravindixit77@gmail.com

DGP (Retired) Maharashtra

This paper was presented in the international Conference on the theme “Redefining Peace Towards a Just, Non-violent, and Sustainable future of the World” organised by Asia Pacific Peace Research Association in collaboration with University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya and Indian Political Science Association at University of Science and technology, Meghalaya on 10-12^th October, 2022.

Abstract

The paper presents a unique model of innovative way of promoting peace and justice in the community. Instead of classical model where only police officers and policemen take upon themselves the responsibility of maintaining peace in the society, the proposed model looks at from the stake holders’ perspective. The scheme is called Police Mitra. Mitra means true friend. The scheme envisages involving people in association with police in educating the people about measures to be taken to live risk free life and thereby promote peace and justice in the community. It advocates ‘police- people relations’ improve when police trust people and involve them in discharging the responsibility of adopting to modern ways of life.

Key points

Conflict starts when there is breakdown of communication between person to person as well as persons and persons categorised on the basis of religion, region, caste, language, gender, country, different age groups, etc. Identity crisis is one of the main reasons. Conflict leads to suicide, clashes, and results in hate speech, and physical assaults. The worst is civil war or war between two countries.
In addressing the issues of resolving conflicts in internal security, British model envisages hierarchical model where responsibility is entirely on police officers and policemen. Citizens are expected to follow their directions. Inherently there is distrust against the citizens as if they are the accused. Half- hearted efforts of involving local people as members of ‘peace committee’ have given rise to more accusations of favouritism, are mostly irrelevant and give rise to more conflict situations.
Esmon J. Milton in his book ‘Dimensions of Development: Perspectives and Strategies’ (Kumarian Press 1991) writes, “The formula (for service provision) is one of pragmatic pluralism in which the state establishes and enforces the rules, but at the level of operations, it performs as one of many actors participating in the production and provision of economic and social goods and services.” But this time-tested principle is rejected in maintenance of peace and justice, stating, this is sovereign duty.
Efforts were made to do away with this colonial mindset. All stake holders including research organisations, men, women, youth, students, elderly citizens from every religion, state, language, caste, tribe, NGOs operating for specific groups such as SC, ST, industrial workers, children, students, youth, women, elderly citizens, professional groups were actively associated addressing the issues impinging on their constitutional rights. They were provided training in important issues such as: traffic duties, tracing missing persons particularly girls, preventing cyber offences, educating senior citizens to protect themselves from financial frauds, protecting children from addictions including drugs, liquor, smoking, reporting about likely serious crimes in their areas, patrolling with policemen, managing the crowds during festivals, processions, and many other issues which would enable citizens to live risk-free life.
This effectively reduced the intra-society clashes on several matters. The street level crimes reduced by more than fifteen per cent on year-to-year basis. In many serious crimes, these volunteers helped police actively in tracking the criminals by providing accurate information before the occurrence of the crime. Most importantly, these volunteers played a crucial role in educating the people about preventive measures in safeguarding their household property, senior lonely citizens, their children, as well as in new areas such as cyber security, economic offences and bank frauds. In fact, these volunteers were acting as ‘ambassadors’ of peace and justice and implementing outreach programmes in innovative manners.
The scheme is completely different from vigilantism. In vigilantism, vigilantes act independently. As against the same, police volunteers known as police Mitra performed various tasks only under strict guidance and supervision of policemen. They did not do any duty independently.
This model ensured that the complaints of non-registration of various offenses at police stations disappeared. Moreover, even serious incidents such as destroying of dead body after murder which were not reported came to light. Incidents of corruption reduced as police working became more transparent. There were no complaints of use of third degree/ custodial death by policemen from any police station. This helped in drastic reduction of law-and-order situations.
Cities are growing rapidly in distant places, but police stations are not increasing with the same speed. However, presence of police Mitra in these areas ensured that criminals were under constant watch. It helped in reducing the threat of terrorist activities, which grow in areas where there is no police presence. Significantly, incidents of radicalisation among the youth were reported immediately and the victims of radicalisation were restored to normalcy to a large extent.
Two hundred thousand ladies and gents belonging to various age groups, from all religions, came forward to be volunteers to work with police free of cost. They were provided a cap with inscription as police Mitra and an arm band when they came forward to work with police.
In the year of implementation, there were no complaints of misuse of their position against any Police Mitra. Incidents of assault against vulnerable sections including members of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe reduced by more than ten per cent. Street crimes including chain snatching, robberies, reduced drastically.
Police Mitra prepared short videos, drew cartoons, wrote scripts, poems and uploaded these on You tube and other social media. They organised debates for youth, participated in street level short dramas to promote measures to reduce conflicts. They came forward in preparing apps including Police Mitra Maharashtra, Pratisad to facilitate quick response in times of emergency. They implemented apps to track stolen vehicles and mobiles enabling victims to lodge complaints online.
Limitation of the scheme is that the scheme needs ownership by senior police officers. The scheme does not involve any amendments to existing laws and does not have any financial implications to the treasury.
In addition to Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Railway Police are reportedly implementing this scheme successfully.
The scheme has the potential to satisfy aspirations of the people on pan-India basis. Stake holders and police together can reduce conflict situations and nip these in bud. There is no better way of improving police public rapport than implementation of the above model in India as well as in any other country. The scheme needs to be made part of the police training programs at all levels.

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In maintenance and strengthening of internal security, police play pivotal role. Police can be effective when they win the trust of the people. There are different models to achieve this objective. According to classical theory, in India, police should do their job as directed by Criminal Procedure Code, Indian Penal Code and other Central and State laws enacted from time to time. As per this model, police should faithfully register offences as reported by the complainants, investigate the same and submit the charge-sheet to courts. In order to supervise effective supervision on police officers, the British colonial masters had created the scheme of District Superintendent of Police who was under the District Magistrate. In three major cities, namely Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, there were Commissioners of Police, who were bestowed the e powers of the magistrates. This model suited the British rulers as the British wanted the police machinery to perpetuate the British Rule by suppressing the aspirations of the people and at the same time, ensure some façade of law and order, maintenance of laws, detection of crimes pertaining to life and property. In this scheme, police were the agents of the dictators and the role envisaged that the public remains fearful of the colonial masters and anyone speaking or acting contrary to continuation of British rule was dubbed as anti-national and hence necessarily had to be effectively neutralised. This model is in existence in most of the Commonwealth countries where the British regime prevailed. As long as the British ruled India, this model worked to their advantage. But this model started experiencing cracks as the freedom movement in the nature of peaceful mass struggle as well as violent actions by many freedom fighters kept on challenging and puncturing efficiency of the British rule. This model continued even after the British left in 1947 and there were very few changes. The system has now become overburdened and neither the police not the courts are in a position to tackle it to the satisfaction of the people. The net result is frequent break downs n law and order situation, phenomenal growth in traditional and modern criminal activities including cyber as well as economic offences. People continue to attack policemen frequently not only in serious law and order situation but even in simple law enforcement such as traffic duties. Frequently people complain that instead of promoting peace, police are favouring political masters and protecting their illegal activities. The situation acquires the nature of class conflict, when persons with economic and muscle power are able to violate the laws trampling the human rights of the ordinary people. In the process, a nexus has emerged among the politicians, criminals and law enforcing agencies, leaving the people to wonder who can bring change in the situation and promote peace and justice to the common people. In brief, police are working as fore brigade and only reacting after the critical situation or crime has taken place.
Another model for police-public relations is available in countries such as Japan and Singapore. In this model, in a given police station, different areas are allotted to specific police officers. In Japan, the said police officer then visits each household under his charge once in six months, maintains detailed record of their requirements, and keeps on assisting them as and when required. If he comes across any aberrations, he advises the concerned, and is expected to enforce the laws. The society members are highly disciplined, law abiding and the number of persons violating laws deliberately is negligible. In Singapore as well, similar arrangements are available and the police maintains detailed account of persons living in their area. The responsibility of prevention of crimes as well as maintenance of law and order is thus effectively on police and the public are expected to abide by their directions strictly. In this model as well, the responsibility of preventing crime and maintenance of law and order continues to be that of police officers and men. In many parts of India as well, particularly where the Commissioner of Police are working, they have tried to introduce the beat system, though it is not as effective as in Singapore. In few cities in India such as Mumbai, an effort was made to constitute ‘mohalla committee’ (also called peace committee) where a few prominent persons with different backgrounds living in that police station are enrolled as persons entrusted of maintaining peace. Members of this committee are called once in a while or when there is serious break down in law and order situation, by the police officers and they are called upon to ask persons in their community to maintain peace. Mostly the meetings witness accusations by the members against each other or against police. On many occasions these persons are known as police agents and they themselves are involved in societal crimes. In short, no purpose is achieved by forming these committees either in promoting police public relations or maintaining law and order.
Israel implements another model for police public relations. Able bodied persons above the age of forty years register their names with nearby police station as volunteers. They are provided with small weapons and work for police twice a week and wear a jacket inscribed as police volunteers. Use of fire arms by these volunteers is considered legal and they enjoy almost all powers of police. They are trained by police but they are not paid for the work done by them. Even when they are not working as police volunteers, they continue their rapport with local police station and there by promote peace in the society.
Analysis of these models and taking into account historical, social, legal, and economic situation in India, we have to create a model which would address aspirations of Indians and meet the requirements of emerging India. New India is having demographic surplus, it is dominated by youth and is free from colonial biases. In new India people including large number women are socially committed and aspire to promote peace, tranquillity and law and order in their areas. There are many elderly people who are physically fit and intend to participate actively in police duties. Considering all these aspects, an innovative model was conceived called police Mitra scheme to promote peace and justice in the society in an innovative manner. The scheme was implemented effectively in Maharashtra, India. Details of the scheme are mentioned in following lines.
Esmon J. Milton in his book ‘Dimensions of Development: Perspectives and Strategies’ (Kumarian Press 1991) writes, “The formula (for service provision) is one of pragmatic pluralism in which the state establishes and enforces the rules, but at the level of operations, it performs as one of many actors participating in the production and provision of economic and social goods and services.” This principle is followed in many sectors such as controlling pandemic like Corona (Covid 19), where health workers from corporates, private sector as well as public sector joined hands in reducing the devastating impact of the virus. Similarly, in eliminating polio from the continent, several voluntary organisations, health workers, teachers and civil society forged their differences and have almost succeeded in eliminating this menace. In educational sector as well, many corporates, voluntary organisations, youth, international bodies have come forward to reduce child labour by ensuring universal education in India. The success stories of many other sectors can be also repeated to emphasise the point that when many actors along with government agencies participate, the chances of success are brighter.
While there is no hesitation in taking help from all sectors in addressing these societal requirements, how it is that the same principle is rejected in maintaining peace and providing justice which is crucial for development. There is an element of distrust against your own citizens. The colonial powers have trained the police officers to suspect every one as criminal, everyone is considered as a person who is cheat and is going to take disadvantage if he is associated with maintenance of law and order, which is considered as symbol of State authority and sovereignty. This is a typical thinking in a dictatorship such as British Raj in India. On the other hand, in U.K. itself, every citizen is believed to be working for promoting the Royal interests. British police have no hesitation in confiding with the British neighbours even confidential information to track activities of a criminal or a terrorist.
In the light of above mentioned theoretical background, when I worked as Commissioner of Police, Nagpur City from 2008 to 2010, I made an experiment by launching this scheme in the city for improving police public relations and thereby implement innovative way of promoting peace and justice. . Every police station was encouraged to actively involve local adult persons of all age groups from all religions, castes, and languages, male as well as females to join hands with police in various duties. List of volunteers was prepared and the same was scrutinised to weed out who may be having any criminal background. Training programs were organised for these volunteers in various subjects including preventing rumours, isolating suspicious objects which may contain a bomb, identifying missing children at bus stands and railway station, helping lonely senior citizens, identifying strangers who may be loitering in any area with ulterior motives, assisting children who are in conflict with law (juveniles), traffic duties at peak hours in areas near schools and colleges. They were trained in managing huge fares, religious immersion processions, public meetings, regulating vehicle movement at crowded places and markets besides making public announcements. Whenever police were doing patrolling, the local volunteers accompanied them and boosted their morale as well as enhanced their striking capacity. The youth who participated in these duties actively were given a certificate of participation in promoting peace and justice. This proved very helpful to them when they appeared for any interview for a job to establish their credibility. Apart from generating enthusiasm, the net result was bridging the communication gap between the local police officers and the public at large. This also effectively reduced the intra-society clashes on several matters. The street level crimes reduced by more than fifteen per cent. In many serious crimes, these volunteers helped police actively in tracking the criminals by providing accurate information. Most importantly, these volunteers played a crucial role in educating the people about preventive measures in safeguarding their household property, their children, as well as in new areas such as cyber security, economic offences and bank frauds. In fact these volunteers were acting as ‘ambassadors’ of peace and justice in an innovative manner.
The scheme is completely different from vigilantism. In vigilantism, vigilantes act independently. As against the same, in the scheme under discussion, police volunteers known as police Mitra performed various tasks only under strict guidance and supervision of policemen. They did not do any duty independently. This ensured that no untoward incidents take place in the name of police Mitra and no one working as police Mitra misbehaves or takes disadvantage of his/her association with law enforcing agencies.
It needs to be emphasised that this model also ensured that the complaints of non-registration of various offenses at police stations almost disappeared as the police volunteers were almost always present in police station or nearby areas when any complainant came to police station. Moreover, even serious incidents such as destroying of dead body after murder which were not reported came to light, because of the police Mitra who acted as whistle blowers. Similarly incidents of corruption also reduced as the police working became more transparent. Significant fallout was that there were no complaints of use of third degree by policemen from any police station. Not even a single incident of custodial death was reported during these two years and hence there was no need to punish any policeman for dereliction of duty on account of these serious lapses. Hardly any law and order situation developed. Mention needs to be made of few interesting incidents. Moreover, as cities keep on growing rapidly in distant places, police stations are not increased in the same speed. However presence police Mitra in these areas ensured that criminals were under constant watch. It also helped in reducing the threat of terrorist activities, which grow in areas where there is no police presence. Significantly, incidents of radicalisation among the youth were reported immediately and the victims of radicalisation were restored to normalcy within no time.
The innovative manner in which peace and justice was promoted through this scheme would become amply clear through few actual examples mentioned below. In April 2009 a few days before Dr Ambedkar jayanti, it was reported that the statue of Bharat Ratna Dr, Babasaheb Ambedkar was disfigured by miscreants. Angered by this humiliation, huge crowd consisting of members of scheduled caste gathered near the statue and was about to be violent. The crowd insisted on immediate arrest of the culprits, though the accused were unknown, A strong contingent of armed police was deployed. However, if police had resorted to use of force, there were chances that the entire city would have been held to ransom and incidents of arson and violence would have spread in far off areas. At such a critical time, one elderly lady who was working as police Mitra and belonging to scheduled caste stepped out and volunteered to help police. With folded hands, she faced the angry crowd and appealed them to disperse and allow the police to track the culprits by undertaking the investigation. She said, ‘I am police Mitra and trust me. Police would discharge their job sincerely. All of you leave this place now and permit the police officers to do their job.’ What a contingent of armed policemen could not do, was achieved by the frail police lady friend. Within no time the crowd disbursed peacefully. In the course of time, police tracked down the culprits and major incident of law and order was averted successfully.
In another incident, around 10.30 at night, it was reported that in a remote place, a reputed doctor and wife were assaulted mercilessly. When police reached the spot, an illiterate person who used to work as Police Mitra, had tied a person to a pillar in his hut, removed knife from his hand carefully, informed nearby police station & waited anxiously for policemen to take over the case. He told police, assailant’s wife worked as nurse in the clinic of the doctor. He was unnecessarily suspicious about the character of the doctor. After getting drunk, he assaulted the doctor and his wife who was also a doctor. At that time, the friend of police intervened, caught him with knife and tied him to a pillar in the hut. Friend of police also ensured that the injured doctor couple was sent to hospital and then he reported the matter to police station nearby.
On one day, an auto rickshaw dashed against an elderly person who was working as friend of police to regulate the traffic. He was admitted in the hospital. After he recovered, he was determined to work at the same place to regulate the traffic, as he considered it his duty to help police. This underlines the fact that people get so much motivated to help police in discharging their duty, if the police trust them. Even ladies used to participate in night patrolling along with policemen on bicycles. Examples of such exemplary behaviour of common people coming forward to ensure peace can be multiplied.
Encouraged by this spirit found among the citizens, for innovative ways to maintain peace in innovative manner and promote justice, when I took over as Director General of Police (DGP), in 2015, I decided to implement the scheme of Police Mitra in Maharashtra leaving Mumbai city. Initially training was organised for senior officers and Police Inspectors to explain them the salient features of the scheme. This was welcome by one and all. Within no time more than two hundred thousand ladies and gents belonging to various age groups, from all religions, came forward to be volunteers to work with police free of cost. They were provided a cap with inscription as police Mitra and an arm band when they came forward to work with police. The response was tremendous from almost all places. Strict watch was kept on these volunteers to ensure no misuse is made by anyone. No identity cards were issued to anyone to avoid any wrong use of the same. Throughout the year, there were no incidents or complaints against anybody who worked as Police Mitra. In the state as well, the incidents of assault against vulnerable sections including members of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe reduced by more than ten per cent. Incidents of street crimes including chain snatching, robberies, reduced drastically. Over all the objective of preventing crime as well as maintaining the law and order was achieved very well when the cooperation of people was sought. Several Muslim youth who were radicalised and were about to join the ISIS, could be retrieved and returned to normalcy. The parents of thee youth were thankful to police for saving these youngsters from sure death. The best part of the scheme was that it was driven following directions given from state headquarters, and fine-tuned by station house officers with local requirements. In coastal areas, these police Mitra worked for coastal security to guard against smuggling of weapons across the seas. In rural areas, they did patrolling to prevent armed robberies. In city areas, they worked to promote communal harmony, regulate traffic, managing huge mobs on special occasions such as Eid, Muharram and Ganpathi celebrations and Navratri festivals which witnessed crowds that were difficult to be controlled only by using policemen. Moreover, these police Mitra were available day and night as per the requirement of local police station. They did not ask for any leave, or any monetary compensation. They were highly motivated people interested in promoting national security. These police Mitra took active part in educating the public at large on behalf of the police in promoting measures such as cyber security, preventing economic offenses, preserving property, security of children, elderly citizens and other vulnerable sections and strengthening security of women. They prepared short videos, drew cartoons, wrote scripts, poems and uploaded these on U tube and other social media. They organised debates for youth, and participated in street level short dramas to promote measures to reduce conflicts. They came forward in preparing apps to facilitate quick response in times of emergency. They implemented an app to track stolen vehicles. These measures helped police on concentrating on their core activities such as investigation and presenting the evidence before courts, while police Mitra performed the role of assisting police in peripheral activities. The net result was that the police public relations were at the best throughout, when the scheme was implemented. Details of the scheme were presented to Hon. Prime Minister and Hon. Home Minister of India during the annual conference of Ds.G.P. held at Runn of Kutchh in 2015.The same was appreciated.
Limitation of the scheme is that the scheme can continue only if senior police officers show interest in the same. The scheme is entirely dependent on how the senior officers consider it. If the senior officer is not in favour of it, the scheme is ill fated. The local people keep on requesting for continuation of the scheme, but it doesn’t get activated, if senior officers are reluctant. Otherwise, the scheme does not involve any amendments to existing laws and does not have any financial implications to the treasury. Junior officers at various places have continued to implement the scheme individually but there is a need to have support from the senior officers as well as from the government. The scheme would be sustainable when it is continued for a long period under the able supervision of senior police officers. If the government of India or any state government desires, it can launch the same as it is most desirable in winning the confidence of the people and absolutely imperative in creation of modern democratic India. States such as Rajasthan, Gujarat and Railway Police are reportedly implementing it. The scheme has the potential to satisfy aspirations of the people effectively and promises that people and police together can ensure peace and promote development with active participation of all stake holders. There is no better way of improving police public relations than implementation of the above model in India. This change in attitude of senior police officers is the most important software to usher police reforms in the direction of pro-people policies. The scheme needs to be made part of the police training programs at all levels.