Language nuances come in way of ‘friendly policing’

A man was allegedly roughed up by the Karkhana police for calling up the police control room seven times to inform about a brawl at Sikh Village. Mohd Shakeel, claimed that policemen had assaulted him after identifying him with his mobile number.

Mr Shakeel, a driver who stays at Hasmathpet said that he was on his way home on June 24, at around 9.40 pm, when he spotted people fighting on the road.

“I dialled 100 and informed the police about it. As the local police did not respond, I rang up the control room repeatedly,” he said.

A few minutes later, a police team reached the place and detained youth for creating trouble.

“A constable got down from the vehicle and asked whose mobile number it was. When I told them that it was mine, the police constable slapped me and made me sit in his car. The constables then took me to the Karkhana police station where I was manhandled again,” he alleged.

The police later released him. “The next day I met AIMIM Charminar legislator Ahmed Pasha Quadri, who took me to Osmania General Hospital and informed higher officials about the incident. I then met the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police who assured that they would look into the matter,” Shakeel said.

However, on Thursday evening, the Karkhana police repeatedly called him and threatened him for approaching senior police officials.

When contacted, Inspector of Karkhana, B. Janaiah said that Shakeel, was a part of the mob that created trouble.

The fight started after Mohsin, a resident of Hasmathpet and Shahrukh, a resident of Sikh village played cricket.

“Shakeel and Mohsin went to Shahrukh’s residence and fought with him. The police reached the spot and caught hold of a few trouble makers. When the police tried to arrest them, Shakeel, who was inebriated, resisted and shouted, saying devised to help officials build contacts quickly with locals. In fact, for officials serving in pockets dominated by minorities, learning Urdu was made compulsory,” said a police official.

Priyanka Padhi, Clinical Psychologist said that when the police are able to speak the same language as the locals, they enhance communication and prevent misunderstandings.

“Sharing a common language can reduce communication roadblocks and foster better understanding. Language barriers regularly prevent the law enforcement system from functioning as well as it could,” she said.

A senior police official said that during interactions with the public, he came to realise the gravity of the problem.

“The department plans to launch capsule courses soon for the personnel to familiarise them with the language and bridge the gap between the public and the police,” he said. he knew several top police officers, MLAs and MPs,” the police inspector said.