2024: A mixed bag for Palamu police

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Daltonganj, January 1: For the Palamu district police, as with law enforcement across India, 2024 marked a year of transition. The shift from the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and Evidence Act to the newly introduced , Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam was a significant milestone.

This transition, however, brought with it a palpable sense of unease at local police stations. From the Thana Munshi to the Bara Babu, officers were anxious and uncertain about using these unfamiliar legal frameworks. Despite initial apprehensions, the police eventually adapted by applying these new sections of law with diligence, albeit laboriously. Credit for this smooth transition goes to the leadership of SP Reeshma Ramesan, whose efforts in ensuring adequate training were evident.

Beyond this legal shift, the Palamu police had an uneventful year with no remarkable achievements to showcase. They performed their routine duties but did not manage to create any significant impact or carve out a niche for themselves.

However, the district did see some concerning incidents, such as a spate of thefts targeting locked homes. Families who attended weddings or funerals returned to find their houses broken into. Despite deploying tracking dogs, the police failed to make much headway in solving these cases.

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One notable achievement was the police’s swift action to quell communal tensions in their early stages, thereby maintaining peace and harmony. Yet, both crime prevention and investigation in Palamu continue to demand better handling. As the saying goes, “A crime prevented is an investigation saved,” and the local police need to focus on proactive crime prevention strategies.

Gap between police and public

The gap between the police and the public remains as wide as ever. While it hasn’t worsened, it certainly hasn’t improved either. The public image of the police continues to be fragile and fraught with distrust.

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Public grievance redressal sessions

To address this, Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta initiated two public grievance redressal sessions where citizens could directly voice their concerns. The first session was a significant success, drawing a large crowd and generating considerable hope. Unfortunately, the enthusiasm dwindled by the second session, which turned out to be monotonous and uninspiring. Petitioners realized their grievances were unlikely to see resolution, leading to disillusionment.

No senior officer investigated why the second session failed to replicate the success of the first. While the attendance numbers may have been satisfactory, the session lacked credibility and public acceptance. It ended up resembling a routine exercise where grievances were submitted but largely forgotten.

Meanwhile, the police headquarters released extensive statistics highlighting arrests, recoveries, and operations against criminals and Naxals. However, such numbers mean little to the common man, who remains distant from the police.

Jharkhand police must go the extra mile

For the Jharkhand police to build trust, they must go the extra mile to connect with ordinary citizens. A fundamental issue persists: do police officers answer calls from the public? The answer is, overwhelmingly, no. It’s rare for a common man to reach an officer before encountering the recorded message, “The person you are trying to reach is busy.”

Conclusion

The Palamu police’s journey in 2024 encapsulates both progress and persisting challenges. While adapting to the new legal system was a commendable achievement, the year also exposed lingering gaps in public trust, crime prevention, and grievance redressal. Much work remains to bridge the distance between the police and the people they serve.