Author: Editorial
Publication: The Free Press Journal
Date: May 16, 2006
URL: http://www.samachar.com/features/160506-editorial.html
Even the chief minister had to admit it. From
what he saw on TV, the Mumbai police used brutal force on the striking junior
doctors and medical students for holding a protest satyagraha near Raj Bhavan.
The beating was so merciless that policemen seemed to attack the doctors to
settle some old scores.
Those doctors and students who had fallen
were beaten so brutallyagain and again on their legs and hands that they could
not get up. Seldom has the city witnessed such revengeful use of force on
a section of the community who is the mainstay of all sections of citizenry
in an emergency.
An all-India strike of the medical fraternity
has been called. There may be a virtual shutdown of medical services in Mumbai
and Delhi. Delhi doctors are planning to go on an indefinite hunger strike.
All because two dozen policemen were let loose
and allowed to take law into their own hands in Mumbai. The city police Commissioner
cuts a pathetic figure. He has admitted that his men have beaten up the medicos
without any orders from any ranking police officer.
And yet he has the cheek to defend his brutally
erring men. He argues that the doctors provoked his men. In what way, Mr.
Commissioner? Some policemen think that doctors came for the protest meeting
armed with pain killers. Can preposterousness go to this level?
The Commissioner's grouse is that the doctors
did not seek his permission before they went on Satyagraha. Which police chief
would give the doctors permission especially when they want to hold their
demonstration near the Raj Bhavan? Some patient and persuasive officer could
have easily handled the situation without raining lathi blows on the doctors.
On such occasions political leadership is conspicuous by its absence.
Of course this is an issue on which the state
government cannot give any assurance to the protesting doctors. Even so, some
polite and humane gestures would have avoided the brutal beating. The chief
minister has ordered an enquiry. Of all the people, by the Police Commissioner.
It is the cruellest joke ever played on a group of complainants.
The police commissioner has stoutly defended
his men, although they had no orders to use their lathis. What new findings
will the Commissioner come up with, if his mind is already made up. Here is
a case of the defendant being asked to play the neutral umpire. It is not
common sense to expect that the doctors will get justice from the enquiry
officer whose primary duty is to defend the police force.
Even so, an experienced chief minister like
Vilasrao Deshmukh does not see any anomaly in appointing the Commissioner
as the enquiry officer. This is adding insult to injury. The chief minister
has said that "excessive force" was used by the police. Will the
expression find a mention in the Commissioner's report?
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