I had the chance to accompany a friend to a drive in Europe. We were heading for a party when his car developed a flat tyre. We were certain to be late but my friend laughed it off. Don’t worry, he said, we will just call the cops. He picked up his mobile and dialled the police. Within five minutes a patrol car was at the spot. They saluted us, inquired about our safety and checked our ID cards. On coming to know my friend was an income tax payer they showed visible admiration, the kind you'd think was only reserved for ministers and associated VIPs. I suddenly realised that for these European cops, my friend who was an ordinary citizen and an income tax payer, was a VIP. They drove us to the party, returned to replace the flat tyre and drove the car to the party venue, where they handed over the car keys and left after saluting us again. We felt we were being protected. And this was the police.

But what do we see in India. We see that an MBA student from Ghaziabad who was on his way to a job interview, was declared a notorious terrorist and shot dead. Eyewitnesses say that a posse of policemen first nabbed him, then dragged him into a jeep. Later, his body was found in a forest 4km away, riddled with bullets. People say that he was tortured and killed. So, if anyone feels that our police force is better than Idi Amin, kindly let me have your reaction in writing.

Today we see policemen extorting money from vegetable sellers, rickshawallahs and auto drivers and even victims attempting to get their grievances redressed at the police station. If an MBA student can be shot then what cannot happen to an aam admi (common man)? I have seen not just policemen but their family members walk into an icecream parlour and leave without paying the bill. On what basis are they allowed to do this? This is due to their proximity with the netas who toy around with the system of checks and balances introduced in the force by the founding fathers of this nation. This political interference has reduced honest officers within the force to mere puppets where their juniors openly defy their authority under political protection.

What we have is a corrupt force that misuses its powers. The only way to prevent fake encounters of the kind that took place in Dehradun, is to learn a lesson from the British police. Unlike police in other developed countries, the vast majority of British police officers do not carry firearms on standard patrol; they do however, carry extendable 'Asp' or fixed Monadnock PR-24 batons and CS/PAVA spray. Should we do the same and disarm our cops on routine duty? I think the government at the Centre or whatever party that will come to power in UP, must put police reforms on top priority.