A gas agency owner being shot to death in Dehradun by a group of assailants on Wednesday highlights the startling decline in the law and order situation in Uttarakhand being witnessed over the past some time. The killings of two young women in separate incidents only recently has already created concern among the citizenry about this growing trend towards lawless behaviour. Considering the fact that, in the present times, it is very difficult to get away with even minor crimes let alone murders and such like, it seems the psychological barriers against acting out have been severely eroded. Concern about consequences seems to be utterly lacking.
This situation brings to the fore the increased need to prevent crime rather than catch culprits afterwards. Traditionally, the constable on the beat had many responsibilities, not just that of responding to situations. It was his job to provide feedback to seniors on the developing situation in the area under his charge. Just like the ‘broken windows’ approach adopted in New York posited that ‘visible signs of disorder – like vandalism, loitering and graffiti – show a lack of community care which signals more serious crime’. ‘By enforcing laws against low level, quality of life offences, police sought to deter major criminal activity.’
Unfortunately, as is evident in Doon, the constable on patrol is rarely seen. Where they are deployed, they are mostly seen to be busy on their mobile phones. The basic number required for such activity is not known and, instead, too large a percentage of the force is posted on VIP duty of various kinds. This indicates basically the lack of concern among the higher authorities for the common person’s safety.
Unfortunately, however, this trend – if it continues, will have severe political consequences for the government. What seems to be an increasing dependence on hard-core Hindutva sentiment as a vote catcher is leading to disconnect with grassroots reality. The usual meetings called in the wake of such incidents by the CM during which ‘strict directions’ are given to the DGP, et al, do not seem to be serving the required purpose. With everyone breaking the law in one way or the other, it becomes hard even for the cop performing his-her duty with sincerity to note early signs of a crime about to be committed. Everybody should work on building a community that is law-abiding in the small things, so that the big problems can be averted.
