Encounter with tipsy cop on duty that went up in smoke

On joining Haryana Police as a probationary officer in 1983, I accompanied my seniors on night patrol. Rabinder Nath Vasudeva and Late K Koshy were particular about taking me along to make me learn active and daunting policing. The superintendents of police went on patrol in those days. The practice was also aimed at knowing the issues faced by the personnel at the cutting edge and seeking to redress them.

Years later, an interesting incident took place on one such patrol duty when I was the Ambala SP. Emulating my mentors, I undertook patrol duty at least twice a week. At times, I would ride the Royal Enfield motorcycle or even a bicycle.

But that December night of 1996, it was around 1am when I headed out in my thick khaki jacket with all epaulets in place in my official car with my staff to patrol the city. It was foggy when I came across three policemen on their bicycles near Manav Chowk. I asked the driver to pull over near them.

An assistant sub-inspector of police came forward and saluted me, striking his left heel with the right and coming to attention. He was suitably dressed in what they call a greatcoat. He had a muffler wrapped around his ears and chin over which he wore his peak cap. Confronting me, he immediately removed his muffler and appeared in a more disciplined and matter-of-fact way.

I asked him his name. “ASI Randhir

Singh saab,” he said, blowing steam from his mouth. “Are you an ex-serviceman?” I asked him since army guys usually address their seniors as ‘saab’, while the police guys say ‘janab’. “Ji saab,” he said when I realised he was smelling of liquor. I asked my security officer to take a closer look. The ASI stood his ground without getting perturbed.

When the security officer gestured, confirming that the cop had indeed consumed liquor, my driver turned the other side, giggling. I asked Randhir Singh if he was drunk. From under his flying bird silhouette of a moustache, that had harboured some condensation by then, he said, “Ji saab.” I asked the driver to call the control room and inform the local station house officer (SHO) to get Randhir Singh medically examined and relieved of duty.

At this, Randhir Singh implored, “May I ask something, saab?” I frowned at his audacity but let him speak. “How many policemen did you find on duty till now?” he said. Realising that I had found none, I said, “So?” “Saab, it’s freezing cold. Yes, I’ve taken a bit, but I’m on duty with two colleagues in tow, while many others like me would have by now reverted to the barracks or to their cosy homes.”

Without saying a word, I sat in the car, while Randhir Singh and the two recruits saluted me. I asked the driver to pass on my cigarette pack from the dashboard when he reminded me, “Janab, madam ne mana kiya hai.” I looked at him and said, “Come on, didn’t you see Randhir taking a bit?” A bit stood dissolved in the fog and another bit went up in smoke.

YEARS LATER, AN INTERESTING INCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON ONE SUCH PATROL DUTY WHEN I WAS THE AMBALA SP. EMULATING MY MENTORS, I UNDERTOOK PATROL DUTY AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK

GUWAHATI: Seventy years after he brought Tawang under Indian rule by reaching the area located near McMahon Line and unfurling the tricolour there, Arunachal Pradesh government on Sunday honoured Major Ralengnao Khathing with a memorial.

Arunachal Pradesh governor Brig (Retd.) BD Mishra laid the foundation stone of the memorial at Tawang coinciding with the day Khathing is believed to have hoisted the Indian flag in Tawang in 1951.

Arunachal chief minister Pema Khandu, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma, union minister of state for sports and youth affairs Kiren Rijiju, chief of defence staff general Bipin Rawat and family members of Khathing were present on the occasion. “Contribution of the hero of Tawang cannot be forgotten. A due recognition has been given to Khathing, who was so far neglected,” Rijiju said.

Khathing, who was more popular as Bob, is relatively an unknown figure for most of India and even parts of Arunachal Pradesh. But people in Tawang still remember him for establishing Indian control over the area when the threat of China loomed large.

“Not many of us are aware of Major Khathing and his contribution towards Arunachal Pradesh. Once the memorial is constructed, visitors will come to know about him,” Khandu had said last month while announcing the plan to honour the hero with a memorial. The memorial will highlight Khathing’s life and will also showcase traditions of the local Monpa tribe.

Born at Ukhrul in Manipur in 1912, Khathing had served the British army in the World War II.