There is widespread political influence in the investigations carried out by Police: M.G.A Ramen

Shri. M.G.A Ramen
Photo:  www.shareandcarefoundation.net 

Shri. M.G.A Ramen is a 1972 Batch Kerala Cadre Indian Police Service officer who retired in 2009 as Director General of Police. As an I.P.S officer, he worked in various capacities throughout the state, awarded the President’s medal twice for his meritorious and distinguished service to the country. Prior to his law enforcement career, he was a Lawyer based at High Court of Delhi with Senior Advocate G.C Sharma.
Given below is the transcript of his interview with Nebil Nizar and Joseph MD.

1.      What is the role of police in modern society?

M.G.A Ramen: In any society, the role of Police is to do service for the Public. Police should improve relations with the public. British Metropolitan Police and their relations with the Public is a good model. In India, no one prefers to go to a police station. Colonial mindset of the Police as well as Public should change. Police need to change and take initiative; slowly and gradually, the Public will follow.

2.       What do you think on the new face of Police- People’s Police? Whether it will change the impression of Police among the common man?

M.G.A Ramen: Police- People relations have become better in cities, but it is not so in rural areas. They still see the Police as the same suppressive police force of British Raj. When I was Director General of Police (Prisons), I used to go and interact with inmates of Jails to understand their problems. All these helped in reforming them.

3.    What is the purpose of a Jail? Reform an inmate or to isolate him from the rest of the society?

M.G.A Ramen: A person when convicted by the court is sent to Jail. My theory is that they have been sent to their house. It is my duty to see that they are looked after properly. I have taken lot of steps in this regard to see that they change their attitude. To that extend my behavior to them was quite different from any normal Police/ prison official. My attitude was human. I believe absolutely in Reformative theory.

4.      Reports of attacks towards the prison officials by inmates are hitting the headlines. Media alleges political prisoners behind these attacks.  Would the Political backing of the prisoners be a threat to the atmosphere and security of the officials in the prison?

M.G.A Ramen: The convicts having political patronage indulge in all these activities. They have a feeling that whatever they do, they can get away with it. The attack on prison officials has been done by those political convicts who has been enjoying freedom for quite a long period.  They lost all their freedom when they were shifted from Kannur Jail to Veyoor Jail.

5.      It is alleged that Police is supplying information to media houses to sensationalize certain cases. Whether Police is also a part of media Trail?

M.G.A Ramen: In the good old days, there was secrecy in the Police Force, but today officers are not so. They are now loyal to the changing Political parties in power and have no loyalty to the uniform. Welfare of Political parties is looked into today. Beyond reasonable doubt, I can say that Information is passed on to media by interested persons in uniform.

6.       Whether Political interference is affecting investigations carried out by Kerala Police?

M.G.A Ramen: Yes, there is widespread political influence in the investigations carried out by Police. Usually a Political party after committing crimes like murder for Political ends gives a list of persons who should be charged. Usually persons from the said list are charge sheeted and arrested by the Police and amongst them few are convicted. It is a fact that most of them are innocent. Unfortunately, this had been a trend for quite long until the TP Murder case. I am happy with the progress of TP Chandrashekaran murder case and the Police is actually working freely after a long time.  History of Kerala Police maybe studied as Pre- T.P Chandrashekaran Case and post TP Chandrashekaran Case.

7.    Recently media published the list of 520 Officers of Kerala Police, having criminal nexus. Whether the Police are really criminalized? What are the reasons for increase in the number of criminals within Police Force?

M.G.A Ramen: This is a very sensitive question. Just because a case is registered, a person cannot be seen as a criminal. Similarly, Police officers involved in Lockup deaths cannot be called criminals. I will say that it is unfortunate.

Merely because a case is registered, a person is seen as a criminal, then today almost all political personalities have to be seen as criminals.

8.        Recently Kerala Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan mooted the concept of amendment to IPC and Cr.P.C to protect the interest of Investigation Officers. The amendments have been suggested in the background of the recent threats held out to police officers probing the T.P. Chandrasekharan and Adbul Shukkoor murder cases. What do you think?

M.G.A Ramen: No comments.

9.       Whether Police Associations are functioning properly in Kerala?

M.G.A Ramen: Police Associations are being focused on Individuals and in reality, no effective ends are obtained and only individual ends are achieved. Officers started to take credit and only focus on enriching their career. I am very much sad to say that associations are not working properly and are more political oriented like the other service organizations (NGO Association and NGO Union).

10.   CM speaking at National Conference of Women in police organized by Bureau of Police Research and Development, said that women would soon be considered for the post of SHOs. He even added that direct recruitment of women as Sis is on the avail. Do you think that women officers would be able to control ‘law and order’?

M.G.A Ramen: It is good. They must be ‘police officers’ and not ‘women police officers’.

11.   Shashi Tharoor now moots the concept of conducting a separate examination to recruit people into Indian Foreign Service. Do you think that UPSC must conduct a separate exam for Indian Police Service?

M.G.A Ramen: I do not subscribe to the idea of conducting a separate exam for Indian Police Service. All India Service exams must be conducted together.

12.   What is your opinion on the new concept of separation of ‘Law & Order’ and ‘Crimes’ in Kerala Police on the lines of Police in Developed Nations? Is that practical in Kerala set up?

M.G.A Ramen: The separation of the Powers into ‘Crime Branch’ and ‘Law and Order’ has been followed from long back. It is definitely practical. The Government in order to prevent law and order headache place all the good officers in ‘Law and Order’. The result is that Crime Branch and Special Branch suffers badly. Further there are very good officers who are not loyal to the political parties, who are denied good postings by the political masters.

13.  Are you optimistic that the present system will change?

M.G.A Ramen: A time definitely will come when the change has to take place. People will to certain extend tolerate injustice, but not for indefinite period. Police has to be given more freedom and then only efficiency will take place. As today persons with political connections in majority of the cases get justice. This loyalty to political parties has to change. Police has to be given more powers and freedom to work. Until and unless the officer thinks about his work over his chair, the present system will not change. If you believe in your work, then positions will come to you. I got huge satisfaction especially from my three and half years as DGP (Prisons) and those memories will always be cherished by me.