Not-so-civil civic cops a problem for police image
Times of India | 1 September 2024
Kolkata: In the past two years, at least eight civic volunteers in Kolkata have been arrested on charges including murder, rape, robbery, theft and extortion.
The most recent arrest happened on Saturday when a civic volunteer attached to Sinthee PS allegedly broke past a barricade on his bike, allegedly in an intoxicated state, when students were protesting on BT Road demanding justice for the RG Kar victim.This comes after the arrest of another civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, as the prime suspect in the rape and murder of the RG Kar PGT doctor.
In 2012, a year after Trinamool came to office in the state, the govt introduced civic police and village police forces. The primary objective of these forces was to “assist police” in their duties. However, what has been criticized heavily by retired police officers is the manner in which they are recruited, given three weeks of basic training and the educational selection criteria of class VIII pass.
Now, there are about 1.2 lakh civic volunteers actively serving in the state doing police jobs — manning traffic on the road, managing law-and-order situations, night patrols on bikes, carrying out naka duties and even office jobs at police stations. Almost all of them write “police” on their bikes and are often seen on the road extorting money from truck drivers on behalf of cops in uniform who often make them do the dirty work.
“The ‘civic volunteers’ were supposed to be a temporary solution that fails to address the long-term issues of vacant positions. Absence of a structured recruitment process and proper training raise concerns about their effectiveness. Recruitment often relies on recommendations from netas, rather than a merit-based selection process. While a policeman, starting from a constable, undergoes a stringent level of training, civic volunteers receive three-week basic training. They are also not legally bound to face consequences for any error, which is not the same in case of a constable,” said a former IPS officer.
The HC had issued a directive to Bengal Police in March 2023, stating that civic volunteers are not permitted to participate in any law-and-order responsibilities. As a result, the state released a set of guidelines for civic volunteers.
A recently retired joint commissioner of Kolkata Police alleged: “The selection lacks transparency and standard procedures. Instead of written tests or interviews, the party in office determines the candidates through a provided list, leading to questionable recruitments. Consequently, many of these “civic volunteers” are engaged in criminal activities, undermining the integrity of the system.”
“As per the rule, a formal background check of all applicants is a must before they are recruited. But since they are locals and often come with recommendations that seldom happen,” he further alleged.
Lalbazar cops on Saturday said they would take strict action against intoxicated civic volunteers and those who regularly consume alcohol on duty will be suspended from their jobs.