Friendly police was a good policy

The ‘friendly police’ approach of the Hyderabad police is leaving cops confused. Even while dealing with criminals or suspects, cops are being told to adopt the same policy. This became clear in two recent incidents.

In the recent lynching of transgenders at Chandrayanagutta, locals started chasing them thinking they were members of an interstate kidnapping gang. This reaction was a result of the videos, that went viral on social media, stating that people dressed as transgenders were on the prowl to kidnap children.

Cops rushed to the spot to control the angry mob. They rescued the transgenders and shifted them to safety.But the locals tried to barge into the police station. "Till then, we tried all means to dissuade the crowds from going berserk but it did not work. Finally when we started caning them, the situation came under control. In such incidents we can’t stick to friendly policing" said a senior official from the city.

At Vanasthalipuram a week ago, when cops tried to control two drunk youths, they were assaulted and injured. "Such incidents need to be handled more strictly instead of adapting the friendly policing policy." the official added.

While this was a good policy, relaxation should be allowed while handling criminals or suspects or even crowds in tense situations, said senior cops. "The policy has a very thin line separating handling of different types of people and that has to be made clear." a senior IPS officer said.