The Goa bench of Bombay High Court rapped six senior police officers, including one Superintendent of Police for releasing photos of policemen posing with accused persons in contempt of orders issued in 2019. The court expressed dissatisfaction over non-compliance with directives that barred police from posing with suspects for photographs. A pointed reference was made to a photograph where officers posed with a mother who was arrested on charges of abandoning her child recently.
According to the Indian Evidence Act, a suspect’s face is covered to avoid exposing the identity to the public before the legal identification process. A breach of this protocol could result in violating the sanctity of evidence. Secondly, there is a thick line between a suspect and a convict which appears to blur in such photos. The question is, besides the publicity that the cops are seeking, what does it serve?
Ironically, it has become a trend that police are taking pride in posing with the accused clearly in an attempt to hog the limelight. The suspect is shown as a prized catch and a trophy despite the understanding that a breach could have serious consequences not only on the trial but also on the individual facing the trial. It is appalling that a senior officer of SP rank who had assured the court back then, figures among those who have shown disregard to court directives, and the Director General of Police remained a mute spectator and allowed the force to bask in such meaningless spotlight.
While police have got into the habit of releasing photographs of the accused with faces covered for the sheer mileage it gives them, the fact remains that these photos serve no purpose, nor help in setting a deterrent or prevention of crimes. Moreover, those displayed in photos are mere suspects and projecting them as criminals is grossly unfair and against the fundamental principle of life.
While it is true that all police officers cannot be weighed on the same scale, the few who are indulging in these practices are bringing everyone a bad name. There are many in the force who have an exceptional track record in handling crime and criminals and have shown tremendous zeal in pursuing cases without the need for any publicity stunts. Rather, they have allowed their work to do the talking, which is why there is a need to draw the line.
There is a need to put in place a few self-centred, publicity-hungry policemen who constantly want to go that extra mile for publicity and public glare. There are still a few who are inspired by Bollywood’s showmanship of super cops, but that’s for another day. Sadly, police bosses have allowed this extravagant and meaningless show of heroism despite the downsides and strictures of the High Court.
It’s time that police focus completely on investigations because Goa needs a better conviction rate to set stronger deterrents against crimes, not photo ops. There is a lot to do on the law and order front, and a long way to go to win the confidence of common citizens.
