One of the main factors for its worsening is the emergence of a strong politician-police-criminal nexus which has resulted in some criminals getting key positions in political parties, some becoming MLAs or MPs and some even ministers. The latest instance is the brutal killing of a uniformed Punjab Police ASI Ravinderpal Singh in broad daylight in Amritsar when he tried to protect his young daughter from being harassed.

The main accused in the case is Ranjit Singh Rana who was recently appointed general secretary of the Amritsar Akali Dal (urban). A village commoner-turned-property-dealer-turned-politician, Rana was recently appointed by the Youth Akali Dal chief Revenue minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia as general secretary (since expelled from the party) of the Amritsar (urban) Akali Dal. Rana was issued three arms licenses.

Comparisons are odious but sometimes not irrelevant. Critics liken the Youth Akali Dal with Sanjay Gandhi’s youth Brigade of the Emergency days. The trend reflects the Emergency period’s mindset.

A month back this writer had commented that the most worrisome aspect of Punjab situation was criminalisation of politics and politicization of bureaucracy and police. The killing of the ASI by Rana is the latest example of criminalization of politics. Accused of committing the heinous crime of murdering a uniformed police officer Rana has been described by some persons of his native village as a brat who kept company with those dealing in the drug trade.

The politicisation of the police is reflected by its initial hesitation to speedily apprehend Rana and his co-accused as it perhaps feared that action against the Akali Dal activists might earn the wrath of ruling Akali leaders. But as the murder of the police officer had shaken the highest echelons of police and ruling Akali leadership, a worried police chief Sumedh Singh claimed that various teams comprising two IGs, one DIG, four SSPs and about 1000 policemen were involved in apprehending the accused. Would the state police bosses show the same swiftness in catching accused if a common man had been shot dead?

Within three days of the ASI killing, another report came from Gurdaspur saying that on Saturday Inderpal Singh, nephew of Gurdaspur Youth Akali Dal beat up and tore the uniform of a Punjab Home Guard Gurnam Singh when he asked for the papers of Inderpal’s vehicle. Gurnam Singh alleged that the vehicle, which was being driven on the wrong side of the road, bumped into another car causing traffic jam. “While manhandling me I was asked whether I have forgotten the Amritsar ASI’s murder… The police initially did not act on my complaint due to political pressure,” Gurnam Singh was quoted.

Over the period, the police in the states have become a tool in the hands of ruling politicians for protecting and promoting their political and personal interests. The politicisation of the force has assumed alarming proportions in Punjab. The trend is reflected in making the police and bureaucracy subordinate to the local Akali leaders. The promoter of this dangerous trend is Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who holds the home portfolio and is also President of the Akali Dal. He is ‘ably’ assisted by his brother-in-law, Revenue Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia.

The trend is rooted in the appointment by Sukhbir of party’s sitting or former MLAs, as “halqa in-charge” (constituency in-charge) of their respective areas. It is their rule, which runs in police stations and civil administration of their areas. This politician-police nexus is mainly responsible for worsening the law and order problem.

The way the Punjab police is functioning has also recently invited scathing observation of Punjab and Haryana High Court. Justice Mohinder Singh Sullar held that criminals were being exonerated by the police by replacing them with innocents. And the perilous trend was rising fast in Punjab. He called for curbing the menace with a heavy hand.

The situation calls for remedial measures by the ruling leadership. There is need to ensure impartial functioning of the police. As a first step it has to be freed from the interference and diktats of the “halqa in-charges”. Besides, the ruling leadership will have to “cleanse” the party’s organisational and legislative wings of criminal elements occupying key positions in the party and in the government. Will it dare take action against such elements? The test case will be of Bibi Jagir Kaur, former President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the apex Sikhs religious body. A few months ago, the CBI court had sentenced her for five years for kidnapping and forcibly aborting her daughter. The CBI had also accused her of abetting murder of her daughter who had married a person against her mother’s wishes. The court had, however, acquitted her of the murder charge. She had to be dropped from the cabinet after her conviction.

The Akali Dal supremo Chief Minister Parkash Badal will have to stem the rot that has set in his party and the government. Actions of party leaders and the police are tarnishing his image. He is held in high esteem by the people as they see in him an upholder of democratic values and a gentleman and easily accessible leader.

As the adage goes “a stitch in time saves nine”. (IPA Service)