MUTINY IN THE LINES
A police protest over service terms finds likely and unlikely allies
Police personnel in Chhattisgarh have hit upon a new way to press home their demands without risking action for violating service rules. Family members of the state’s 70,000strong constabulary and special armed force (SAF) are leading the agitation by proxy.
On June 25, the families joined a protest rally at Raipur’s Idgaahbhata ground to press for the demands, including better salaries and allowances, and a practical policy on transfers.
It all began some six months ago, when Rakesh Yadav, a constable in Bilaspur, who had been dismissed from service in 2013 for organising hunger strikes and dharnas, began an online campaign articulating the demands. He found instant traction on social media. The campaign became more vociferous after the Raman Singh government conceded contractual teachers’ demand to regularise their jobs.
The state government, however, decided to take on the policemen’s families. Yadav, the ‘instigator’, was booked in twin sedition cases, arrested from Surajpur and is in jail. Termination notices were issued to some 300 other ‘out of line’ cops . Ten police personnel were actually dismissed from service and several others alleged they were sent on ‘punishment postings’ in Maoist areas.
This apart, the state administration made every attempt to scuttle the June 25 protest in Raipur. Checkpoints were set up on all roads to the state capital, railway stations were put under surveillance, and many police families were detained en route to the rally.
The crackdown was an irresistible opportunity for the opposition Congress and former chief minister Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh who proclaimed support for the agitating families. The Congress legislator from Dantewada, Devati Karma, who went to the local police lines to express solidarity, was placed under arrest. In Bijapur (south Bastar), rather unexpectedly, the Maoists too expressed support for the protesting families in a press statement.
With no fixed working hours like police personnel in most other states, the agitating families want better pay packets and enhanced allowances. Currently, the monthly handout for bicycle maintenance, laundry and medicines adds up to a measly Rs 400. They also
IN BIJAPUR, EVEN THE MAOISTS HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR PROTESTING POLICE FAMILIES
want a coherent policy on postings in areas prone to Maoist violence. Recommendations by the Vishwaranjan Committee, incidentally set up by the Chhattisgarh High Court in response to a petition by Yadav in September 2017, have been pending with the government since December 2017.
State BJP spokesman Sachidanand Upasane says vested interests are trying to exploit the situation. “It is not as if the government has done nothing for the welfare of police personnel. Housing, uniforms and hardship allowances are being given to those serving in Naxal areas,” he said, adding the government is “open to talks”.
But in a state where Maoist insurgency is widespread, a disgruntled and agitated constabulary can be a big problem. And of even greater concern, given that assembly polls are less than five months away.