“SMALL TOWNS, BIG CHALLENGES: THE REALITY OF RURAL POLICING” BY - AKSHAYA.J
“SMALL TOWNS, BIG CHALLENGES: THE
REALITY OF RURAL POLICING”
AUTHORED BY - AKSHAYA.J
ABSTRACT
India is a democratic country with
more number of populations. In present the crime rates are also escalating, in
order to prevent that parliament has enforced many laws. It requires a fair and
effective criminal justice system in which police has a central role to play.
The police are the most recognisable face in protecting people, enforce the law
and maintain peace and harmony. Whenever any problem arises first we have to
report to the police station and they will take action. Many literatures focused on the challenges
faced by the urban policing but leaving the gap in understanding the unique
challenges faced by rural policing. Rural police departments often must
navigate the challenges of fewer resources, lower staffing levels, and vastly
larger geographical areas than urban departments while taking on more diverse
roles in their communities and increasing crime levels. This paper highlights
the challenges which are faced by rural policing, the problems faced by the
people due to the lack of rural policing and the reason behind the escalating
of crime rates in rural areas, the possible ways to improve the policing
agencies in rural areas.
KEY WORDS:
Rural policing, lower staffing skills, resources, crime rates.
INTRODUCTION:
The current spotlights on policing
and law enforcement issues are mainly focusing on urban departments and not
rural policing areas. About more than half of the population inhibit rural
areas. Even though rural areas are improvising, the rural agencies also face
challenges like identifying the types of crimes, interaction with citizens,
degree of scrutiny, inferior technology, mutual aid access, and cooperating
overlapping jurisdictions, biased with their social community e.g., These
loopholes may escalate crimes like communal fights, honour killing, rape mainly
in remote areas where the safety of women were not safeguarded, related to
wildlife and agriculture etc. Whether rural or urban crime rates are higher
only but when we make a comparative research from many scholars and reports
given by police agencies many crimes are taking place in rural areas where rural
police departments tend to have a unique culture and way of doing things
depending on local history, demographics, size, and budget. The examination of
rural agencies in the literature has been largely neglected; therefore, it is
essential to address this as the law enforcement profession faces upheaval. This
research aims to address this knowledge gap and explore strategies to improve
rural policing, including targeted resource allocation, community engagement,
and tailored training programs. By examining the challenges and potential
solutions, this study seeks to contribute to the development of more effective
and responsive rural policing practices.
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE:
1.
In the article “Reaching Rural
policing: Challenges, implications and application” by Marilyn J. Wooley, Ph.D.
Shaneika Z. Smith, M.A., M.S.
Lifestyle issues are also a factor.
Police work is not "9 to 5’ nights, weekends, and holidays does not offer
the flexibility that younger people seek. They want a balance between work and
their private lives. Then there is the risk factor. Policing is inherently
dangerous. Line of duty deaths and the increasing number of ambush-style
attacks cause realistic concerns about safety. In large rural areas where
radios don't operate in dead zones and backup is hours away, add to that anxiety.
2.
In the book “Penology and Victim
ology ; by S.M. Afzal Qadri – Professor H.Bailey makes similar observation
Crimes in India are bewildering in
its variety; the police must cope with a range of crime as diverse as any in
the world. While people are vicious to one another in India, it is the richness
of social and geographical conditions that gives to Indian crimes a
creditability and fascinating heterogeneity. How far are the police in India
capable and adequate of meeting such a challenge? What are the various
obstacles which the police face while discharging their functions?
3.
In the book “ Errors of Justice
nature, sources and remedies” by Brain Forst
In the extreme, profiling is either
an effective crime solving approach or sure fire way to multiply due process
errors, institutionalize racism and reduce police legitimacy, thus further
limiting the ability of the police to get support from the community in solving
crimes. As in case with the most criminal justice practices, the truth is more
complicated. Confusion about profiling has different connotations, depending on
whether used to prevent crimes or apprehend a particular offender or whether
used to develop a psychological picture of a particular offender or whether
usually an intuitive process, or to fit a particular pattern of offending with
a more general archetype, which is more conductive to empirical methods.
4.
In the book “Criminal Justice” by
George F. Cole, Christopher E. Smith
Carrying out the complex task of
policing efficiently and according to the law is tough assignment even when the
police have support and corporation of the public. People must be willing to
call for help and provide information about wrongdoing. But in a multicultural
society, relations between the police and the minorities are complicated by
stereotypes, cultural differences and language differences. Almost all studies
reveal the prejudices of the police towards the poor and racial minorities. If
both police and citizens view each other with hostility, then their encounters
will be strained and the potential for conflict great.
5.
In the press release report “First
Wales Wildlife and Rural Crime - strategy to be launched” Rob Taylor said:
Rural and wildlife
crime can have a devastating impact, affecting rural communities, farmers,
wildlife as well as habitats and our heritage. The launch of this first ever
made-in-Wales strategy to integrate rural and wildlife crime, will be vital in
bringing Welsh Government, police forces and partners together alongside my
role as coordinator to tackle such offences.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:
To study the challenges faced by the
rural policing
To know the impact and challenges
faced by the citizens in remote areas when addressing rural police
To study the implication of
escalating crimes, especially in rural areas and lack of policing agencies.
Emphasise the connection between the
rural communities and law enforcement aspects of rural policing.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:
1. The research mainly deals with the “
small towns, big challenges the reality of rural policing”
2. This research helps us to draw a
conclusion that due to lack of policing agencies in rural areas the crime rates
are high.
3. The main significance of the study is
what is lacking in police administration to recruit efficient police agencies
in rural areas with all efficacies and technologies so that the mens rea to
commit a crime among people would be gradually reduced.
HYPHOTHESIS / RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
1. The strengthening of rural policing
through targeted resource allocation, innovative community enforcement
strategies will lead to significant reduction in crime rates.
2. If the policing agencies are made
adequate in rural areas the possibility to prevent the peoples engaged in the
activities against the law may be protected with force.
3. If stringent mechanism were followed
in policing especially rural areas the public satisfaction with rural policing
would be improvised.
4. To prove that the reality of rural policing
is the biggest loophole in police administration.
METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY:
The study is an attempt to study
about ‘the challenges being faced by the rural policing as well as the people
suffer due to lack of policing agencies’. For this, data are collected through
primary sources like books, research scholars’ reports, reviews given by
various police agencies, reviews given by people, newspaper. This paper
includes both doctrinal (Books and Websites) and non-doctrinal research reports
and services collected from the department of the police. The data is collected
for the study of rural policing in police department. The collected information
have been organized, explained and analysed using different statistical tools
and techniques.
Study
Area:
This research is an empirical form of
research which mainly focuses on the books the primary sources and also relies
on articles, newspapers and real life incidents. This research was conducted
among the people belonging to the police department.
LIMITATION
OF THE STUDY:
1. This research is mainly done by
referring to the context of books, newspapers, articles, and websites.
2. The study mainly concentrates on the
rural policing.
3. To narrow down the study this
research paper mainly concentrates on the challenges faced by the police
agencies and people in rural areas.
4.
The reports and surveys are collected from the police department and
press release report.
RESEARCH ANALYSIS:
Who is a police?
The
police play a very important role as they are the primary body of authority
that people in rural areas approach whenever any dispute arises. These disputes
and conflicts usually arise between two different parties, who then proceed to
file a complaint in the nearest police station. The role of the police then would
be to maintain law and order and take action to enforce the same. Empowered by
the Police Act of 1861, they have the right to investigate, interrogate and
arrest people on the basis of whatever complaint has been filed.
What is rural policing?
In rural areas, the police serve as
the primary authority for resolving disputes and conflicts between parties.
However, the process is often complicated by inherent mistrust in the system.
For instance, land disputes are prevalent, and ownership claims may be based on
inherited land, leading to inaccurate land records. Furthermore, corruption
within the police system can be influenced by wealthy landlords, creating an
uneven power dynamic. Rural communities face additional challenges, including
negligence, lethargy, or disbelief among policemen, leading to a reluctance to
file complaints. To address these issues, there is a need for additional layers
of enforcement or alternative authorities to perform roles, ensuring more
effective and fair dispute resolution mechanisms.
Historical development of rural policing:
1. Pre- colonial Era: Informal community
based policing in rural areas were there then in;
2. Colonial Era (18th -19th
century) Introduction to rural policing was given and formal policing system
was formed mainly focusing on maintaining colonial authority.
3. Post- colonial Era (mid-20th
century): Inheritance of colonial
policing structures with gradual reforms was brought.
4. In 1960s-1980s community oriented
policing emerges, emphasizing local partnerships.
5. 1990s – 2000s: Rural policing faces
challenges like reduced resources, increased drug trafficking, and terrorism
concerns.
6. 2010s focuses on:
i)
Community
engagement and trust building
ii)
Addressing
unique rural challenges like mental health
iii)
Leveraging
technology eg: drones, mobile data terminals
iv)
Collaborative
approaches eg: inter agency cooperation, regional policing.
Key point includes:
·
1861
Police Act in India establishes formal police force
·
1960
community oriented policing emerges in the Unites States
·
1990
UK’s rural policing strategy emphasises local partnerships
·
2010s
Australia’s rural policing framework focuses on collaborative approaches.
Section 61: Police Stations covering rural areas shall be so organised
as to be self-sufficient in matters of accommodation, for amenities as
stipulated in Sections 12 (5) and 12 (6) of Chapter II, as well as in
communication facilities, transport and police housing. Each Police Station
will also be equipped with adequate facilities of forensic science and
scientific aids to investigation.
Section 62: Special attention
shall be paid to the security of each Police Station, particularly in areas
prone to violence or mass disturbances. It shall also be ensured that the
manpower posted in such Police Stations, is not diverted elsewhere except when
specially authorised by the Director General of Police for a specific purpose
and a specified period.
Section 63: The jurisdictional area of a Police Station shall be divided
into a suitable number of Beats, each covering a cluster of villages, to be
kept under the direct charge of a Civil Police Officer Grade II or Grade I, for
maintaining regular and close contact with the villages under his charge.
Section 64: The officer in charge of each Police Station, called the
Station House Officer, shall ensure that every village in his jurisdiction is
covered by a Beat Police Officer as per the minimum frequency prescribed by the
Superintendent of Police by a general or special order
Challenges faced by rural policing:
In 2022, law enforcement as a
profession is at a crossroads. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated and
making use of the internet. Sex crimes, theft, drug trafficking, and human trafficking
are constantly in the news. Investigative strategies from a few years ago are
out-dated. Police are increasingly called on to respond to social problems that
have de facto become law enforcement problems. In the wake of the protests that
followed the killings of people of colour by police, mistrust between civilians
and law enforcement has grown to epic proportions.
Faced with expanding territories,
rising service calls, and escalating violent crime, rural law enforcement
agencies confront a multitude of challenges. The surge in illicit drug
activities, including manufacturing and distribution, has led to increased
violence, fatalities, and community disruption. Consequently, rural officers
are increasingly tasked with addressing homelessness, drug addiction, and
mental health issues, often without adequate training or resources. The
scarcity of mental health facilities forces officers to rely on law enforcement
tactics when dealing with individuals requiring psychiatric care. Overcrowded
jails and perceived ineffectiveness of prosecution further compound the issue.
To effectively address these social problems, rural agencies require sufficient
training, resources, equipment, and access to technological tools, which
are often lacking.
1.
Police personnel:
The police personnel are the first
most major challenge faced by the police. It means due to lack of qualified
education the recruitment, hiring process are quite difficult when compared to
urban areas. Small departments that struggle to retain officers are placed with
financial burden to carry out more frequent testing, hiring, vetting and
training of new officers. This
exasperates and leads to limited human resources in smaller departments in
rural areas. There are many connotations between rural and urban areas this was
drawn by the report given by FBI (Foreign Bureau of Investigation)[2]
that more than 36% of the police
officers in urban areas has bachelor degree whereas only 12% in case of rural
areas. In some cases police departments sets standards to recruit police
officers having bachelor degree and have completed IPS examination.[3]
2.
Police department funding, training
and technology:
Most police departments are funded
through the tax revenue managed and distributed by a governing agency or a
board. The governing bodies approve the budget for departments which includes
both capital and operational expenditures.
Rural police departments tend to have smaller budget when compared to
support training, travel and equipment. Police departments may receive funds
from government as well as private grants however many rural officers believe
that their department receives fewer funding opportunities and fewer funding
resources.[4]
A national survey of small and rural
departments revealed rural departments may not utilize technology such as guns,
less lethal weapons, digital fingerprinting as frequently when compared to
urban policing this is due to lack of resources and technologies in remote
areas. It also states that more than 30% of the rural police agencies use
record management system they also have a capacity to collect and record
information but human personnel are insufficient to maintain those records
periodically.[5] For example
we consider only 3 inspectors are there in the police station where one police
went to patrolling, other went to investigate people in case and the remaining
one would end up in other works like enquiry etc.., in this case they would
maintain records despite lack of police members the records would not be maintained
continuously. In urban areas they started submitting electronically stored
records and information whereas in rural areas getting network is itself a
major problem in forest and remote areas.[6]
This affects the communication between patrol officers and limits wireless
access to important police information the preventing of crime rates are
deduced.
Rural policing may face difficulties
providing officers specialised training in areas of interest or in areas that
would help advance an officer’s career. One important barrier to training notes
by rural policing chiefs is the cost of backfilling a position when police
officer is on leave.[7]
The main drawback is in urban
policing the police themselves would create and spread awareness among people
so that people would be aware but when we take in rural areas the police itself
is not aware of what is happening and no proper response is provided by the
police.
3.
Community relations and procedural justice:
The rural agencies interaction with
citizens are less frequent than urban police because this may due to less crime
in rural areas and smaller communities requiring less police action and thus
fewer interactions with civilians. An examination of policing styles of rural
policing found that while community policing, which emphasis community
partnership and problem solving and more often supported traditional patrol
activities. While the research on the effectiveness of community policing is
largely inconclusive, some evidence includes it may improve citizen
satisfaction with police and decrease citizen fear of crime. In Tamil Nadu this
is more prevalent where the people are more concerned with their communities
and the inter-caste marriages were seen as a crime so the honour killing
arises.
Ø Important case in which the police
also aided and protected the accused, from taking an action against him/her. I
would like to highlight a case Uma
Maheswari case (2004) [8]
Uma Maheswari, a Dalit girl, fell in
love with S. Sankar, a boy from a higher caste (Thevar community).
- Their families opposed the
relationship due to caste differences.
- On June 15, 2004, Uma's family
members, including her father, mother, and brother, attacked and killed her in
their home in Pallapalayam village, Namakkal district.
- Sankar was also attacked and
injured.
- The police were accused of
shielding the accused and delaying action, lead to widespread outrage and
protests.
The Gokulraj case refers to a tragic
honour killing incident that occurred in 2015 in Tamil Nadu, India. Gokulraj, a
22-year-old man, was murdered by his girlfriend's family members for loving a
woman from a different caste. The victim's family alleged that the police had
prior knowledge of the threat to Gokulraj's life but failed to take action. The
case led to the arrest of several people, including Pavithra's family members
and some police personnel accused of complicity.
4.
Officer Bias:
Implicit officer bias refers to
officers making associations between people based on subjective social
perceptions or stereotypes, which can impact officer interactions with
civilians. Most of the bias does not focus on differences between rural and
urban officers but with rural departments. In an officer survey, rural officers
reported receiving less training on bias towards others and were less likely to
report biased based policing was an issue in their departments. Due to these
biases the officers were not given an opportunity to reach higher positions and
ranks despite having more knowledge in policing.
5.
Officer Wellness and Stress:
Possible sources of stress among
police officers include workplace problems, poor co-worker relation, negative
feeling about career opportunity and experience with harassment, lack of
support networks from homes and at work, minority status i.e.; racial, ethnic
or gender minority within a department and poor community conditions such as
high level of poverty and high crime rates.[10]
Positive work environment’s and support networks can help prevent against post-
traumatic stress disorder following officer exposure to traumatic or violent
incidents. Small urban departments are prone to more emotional stress.
I think you might be referring to the
Jayaraj and Bennix case, which occurred in Tamil Nadu, India, during the
COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Jayaraj and Bennix were a father-son
duo who was arrested by the police on June 19, 2020, for allegedly violating
lockdown rules. They were taken to the Sathankulam police station, where they
were subjected to brutal physical abuse and torture. As a result of the
torture, both Jayaraj and Bennix suffered severe injuries, including rectal
bleeding and internal injuries. They were denied medical attention and were
eventually taken to a hospital, where they died on June 22 and June 23,
respectively. The case sparked widespread outrage and protests across India,
with many condemning the police brutality and demanding justice for the
victims. The incident also led to calls for police reform and accountability[11].
This has happened mainly because of
the stress faced by the police officers due to the high pressures from higher
officials, fear in the mind of the polices due to covid-19 whether they would
be affected from the virus, mental stress how to handle the people and also due
to quarantine many officials were struck in the areas thinking about their
families, so many problems etc. So this stress is also the big challenge faced
by the rural police.
Night Patrol duties were given to
polices, even during government holidays leaves were not granted to polices
their sleep cycles gets disturbed; spending time with the families are
less. Mainly in forest areas the patrolling
polices were not provided basic shelter facilities to take rest, torches were
not given and safety of polices were not ensured.
6.
Police suicides:
As per reports given by the police
officer itself due to overloading of work and pressure from higher officials
police were not able to tackle the situations. So it ends up resulting in
committing suicide. Here would highlight few cases which happened in Tamil
Nadu.
Ø Rajesh Kumar case 2020:
Rajesh Kumar, a
35-year-old sub-inspector died by suicide on June 12, 2020, at his residence in
Chennai. He was found hanging from a ceiling fan by his family members. Reasons:
Kumar's family alleged that he was under immense stress and pressure from his
senior officers, which led to his suicide. They claimed that he was constantly
harassed and humiliated by his superiors, which affected his mental health. The Chennai Police Commissioner ordered an
inquiry into the incident. The investigation revealed that Kumar was facing
stress and pressure due to work-related issues, including a pending inquiry
against him. The Tamil Nadu government announced a compensation of ?10 lakh to
Kumar's family. The police department also initiated steps to address stress
and mental health issues among its personnel.
The incident sparked
widespread outrage and concern about the mental health and well-being of police
personnel in Tamil Nadu. Many demanded better working conditions, stress
management, and support systems for police officers.[12]
Ø Saravanan Case 2016:
Saravanan, a 28-year-old
constable died by suicide on October 12, 2016, at his quarters in Madurai. He
was found hanging from a ceiling fan by his colleagues.
Saravanan's family and
colleagues alleged that he was subjected to harassment and torture by his
senior officers, which led to his suicide. They claimed that he was constantly
humiliated and forced to do menial tasks. The Madurai Police Commissioner
ordered an inquiry into the incident. The investigation revealed that Saravanan
was facing stress and pressure due to work-related issues, including harassment
by his superiors. The Tamil Nadu government announced a compensation of ?5 lakh
(approximately $6,700 USD) to Saravanan's family.
Ø Rajendra Singh vs. State of Uttar Pradesh (2017):
Rajendra Singh, a police constable,
died by suicide on June 14, 2016, due to harassment and torture by his senior
officers. His family filed a writ petition seeking compensation, action against
responsible officers, and measures to prevent such incidents. The court held
that the state government was liable for Singh's suicide, as it failed to
prevent harassment and ensure a safe working environment. The court directed
the state government to pay ?20 lakh as compensation to Singh's family. The
court also directed the state government to initiate disciplinary action against
the responsible officers and to take measures to prevent such incidents in the
future, including: Providing counselling and mental health support to police
personnel conducting regular inspections to prevent harassment. Establishing a
grievance redressed mechanism for police personnel.
These were the actions taken by the
police departments to prevent suicide of police officials.
7.
Safe environment in working place:
When it comes to the safety of women
police in rural areas it is a big question. Women are always considered as
vulnerable in society and it should ensure protection should be given to women
in workplace and safety environment. But our society always lacks in protecting
women in all fields. In real the important case which highlights that women police
were not ensured protection.
Vahitha vs State of Tamil Nadu (2020)[13] is a case where the Madras High
Court held the state government liable for the suicide of a police officer,
Vahitha, who died due to harassment and stress caused by her superior officers.
Key points of the case:
- Vahitha, a police sub-inspector,
died by suicide on February 20, 2020, due to harassment and stress caused by
her superior officers.
- Her family filed a writ petition
seeking compensation, action against responsible officers, and measures to
prevent such incidents.
- The court held that the state
government was liable for Vahitha's suicide, as it failed to provide a safe
working environment and protect her from harassment.
- The court directed the state
government to pay ?25 lakh as compensation to Vahitha's family.
- The court also directed the state
government to:
- Initiate disciplinary action against the responsible officers
- Provide counselling and mental health support to police personnel
- Conduct regular inspections to prevent harassment
- Establish a grievance redressed mechanism for police personnel[14]
This case highlights the need for a
supportive work environment and measures to address stress and mental health
issues within the police force, particularly for women officers who may face
additional challenges and harassment.
CHALLENGES FACED BY THE PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS:
1.
Inadequate Police presence in Rural
policing:
Inadequate police
presence in rural areas leads to delayed response times, allowing crimes to
escalate and leaving victims without timely assistance. This reduces the
deterrent effect of policing, emboldening criminals and increasing crime rates.
The lack of police
presence also fosters fear and anxiety among community members, who feel
vulnerable and unprotected. This leads to underreporting of crimes, as people
may not see the point in reporting incidents if they don't believe the police
can respond effectively. Inadequate police presence makes it difficult to
maintain law and order, leading to increased disorder and chaos. Police are
unable to engage with the community, build trust, and gather intelligence,
making it harder to prevent and investigate crimes.[15] The
limited police presence also places an undue burden on existing personnel,
leading to burnout and decreased effectiveness. This can result in decreased
morale and increased turnover rates, further exacerbating the issues.
Inadequate police
presence can have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, such as
the elderly or those with disabilities, who may rely more heavily on police
services for support and protection. This can leave them feeling isolated and
vulnerable. Finally, inadequate police presence can damage relationships
between law enforcement and the community, leading to mistrust and hostility[16].
This can make it even more challenging to address the issue, as community
members may be less likely to cooperate with or support the police.
Ø Murder in Rural Tennessee in 2019:
The murder in rural
Tennessee I mentioned earlier refers to a 2019 case where a woman was found
dead in her home in a remote area of rural Tennessee. Here are some additional
details:-
The victim, a 55-year-old woman, was found
dead by her husband when he returned home from work.
- The sheriff's
department responded to the scene, but due to the remote location, it took over
30 minutes for deputies to arrive.
- The investigation
revealed that the victim had been murdered, and the suspect had fled the scene
before the police arrived.
- The suspect was later
identified and arrested, but the delay in police response allowed them to
escape and potentially destroy evidence.
- The case highlighted
concerns about the lack of police presence in rural areas and the need for
improved emergency response times.
2. Issue of Underreporting of crimes:
Underreporting of crimes is a
significant issue in rural areas, where crimes may go unreported due to various
factors. One major reason is the lack of trust between law enforcement and the
community, which can lead to limited interaction and concerns about
confidentiality. Additionally, the distance and accessibility of police
services can also hinder reporting, as victims may find it difficult to access
police stations or report crimes.
Fear of retaliation is another
significant factor, especially in small, close-knit communities where
perpetrators may be known to the victims. Limited resources and personnel can
also contribute to underreporting, as police may not have the capacity to
investigate crimes thoroughly. Cultural or social barriers can also discourage
reporting, particularly for sensitive crimes like domestic violence or sexual
assault.
The consequences of underreporting
are severe. Inaccurate crime statistics can lead to ineffective resource
allocation, while unreported crimes can leave victims without access to support
services and justice. Moreover, underreporting can perpetuate crime, allowing
perpetrators to continue committing crimes with impunity. To address
underreporting, it is essential to build trust between law enforcement and
rural communities through community policing initiatives and engagement.
Increasing accessibility and ensuring confidentiality and anonymity can also
encourage reporting. Educating the public about the importance of reporting and
available resources is crucial, as is providing support services and resources
for victims. By addressing these factors, we can work towards reducing underreporting
and improving crime reporting in rural areas.
Highlighting a case in which due to
lack of trust in police the reporting of crimes to police was gradually less
when compared to urban areas. Here people fear of their social backgrounds and
what society speaks.
Ø Uttar Pradesh Rural Domestic violence case:[17]
A 35-year-old woman, named Sarita
(name changed), was married to a farmer in a rural village in Uttar Pradesh. She
suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband and in-laws
for over 5 years. Despite the abuse, Sarita did not report the crime due to: -
Fear of social ostracism and family reputation
- Lack of trust in local police and judiciary
- Limited access to support services and resources
- Cultural and social norms that condone domestic violence.
·
Main
challenges faced by the victim to report the crime was:
- Limited access to police services
and support resources in rural areas
- Social and cultural norms that
condone domestic violence
- Fear of retaliation and social
ostracism
- Lack of trust in local
authorities and judiciary.
3. Inadequate resources:
Inadequate resources also includes
lack of transportation facilities, communication, forensic resources, medical
facilities, labs, limited access to phone, internet and service providers.
Geographical barriers: Remote or
hard-to-reach locations, making it difficult for police and support services to
access and respond to crimes. Technological limitations: Out-dated or limited
technology, such as lack of digital record-keeping or online reporting systems.
Shortage of trained personnel: Limited number of trained police officers,
investigators, or support staff, leading to inadequate response and support.
Inadequate infrastructure: Poor or non-existent infrastructure, such as roads,
lighting, or communication networks, hindering crime prevention and response.
Ø Real incident happened in Gujarat Road accident case[18]:
The Rural Gujarat road accident case
highlights the challenges of limited resources in rural areas. Rohan, a
25-year-old man, was driving on a rural road in Gujarat when his vehicle
collided with a truck. He suffered severe injuries and was rushed to the nearest
hospital, which lacked the necessary medical resources and expertise to treat
him. The police investigation was hindered by limited forensic resources and
expertise, lack of traffic cameras and surveillance, and inadequate training of
police personnel in handling accident cases.
The case was further complicated by
limited access to legal aid and counselling for the victim's family, as well as
inadequate compensation and support services for the victim. This case
illustrates the need for improved emergency services and support in rural
areas, including better medical infrastructure and expertise, increased access
to legal aid and counselling, and enhanced compensation and support services
for victims and their families. Additionally, there is a need for improved
police training and resources, including the installation of traffic cameras
and surveillance systems, to aid in investigations and prevent such
accidents in the future.
4.
Problems faced by the people during
Covid-19:
As the
country faced a rise in the number of Covid cases, strong surveillance
undertaken by the police was witnessed across the country. Several police forces adopted the use of new
technology to beef up the surveillance, such as the use of drones by Delhi Police
in containment zones. This increased surveillance often led to use of
disproportionate force by the police and incidents of police violence and
custodial deaths as reported in the local and national media. Thus, people now
had to contend with an additional worry fear of arbitrary state violence, apart
from being anxious about accessing basic needs like food and other essential
items during the lockdown.
It must be
noted here that it was also an extremely challenging time for the police, given
the sudden imposition of the lockdown without adequate notice or planning. The
Prime Minister himself had to send out messages asking Indians not to panic, when
there seemed to be lack of clarity on how they would access essential services
during the initial three-week stay-at-home period (Ibid). Various viral photos and
videos from several states showed police beating up people who were trying to get
essential supplies. In West Bengal, the police allegedly beat up a 32-year-old
man to death, after he stepped out of his home to get milk (The Wire, 2020). Another
video from Uttar Pradesh showed police forcing migrant workers trying to walk
home to hop on the street to humiliate them. Police in Maharashtra allegedly
beat homeless people to evict them from streets (Shantha, 2020). Force was also used against daily-wage
workers (vegetable and fruit vendors, milk sellers, auto rickshaw and taxi
drivers), and others delivering essential goods Human Rights.
Sathankulam Case:[19]
As I mentioned above Jayaraj and
Bennix were a father-son duo who was arrested by the police on June 19, 2020,
for allegedly violating lockdown rules. They were taken to the Sathankulam
police station, where they were subjected to brutal physical abuse and torture.
As a result of the torture, both Jayaraj and Bennix suffered severe injuries,
including rectal bleeding and internal injuries. They were denied medical
attention and were eventually taken to a hospital, where they died on June 22
and June 23, respectively. The case sparked widespread outrage and protests
across India, with many condemning the police brutality and demanding justice
for the victims. The incident also led to calls for police reform and
accountability.
Here are some famous cases in India where police
involvement in aiding crime has been alleged or proven, specifically in rural
areas:
1.
Badaun gangrape case (2014):
In May 2014, two teenage
girls, aged 14 and 15, were gang-raped and murdered in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh,
India. Their bodies were found hanging from a mango tree in a village. The case
sparked widespread outrage and highlighted the issue of sexual violence against
women in India. The police investigation was initially botched, and the
families of the victims alleged that the authorities were trying to cover up
the crime. The case led to the arrest of five men, including two police
officers, and resulted in a nationwide debate about women's safety and the need
for police reform. The incident was widely condemned, and it led to changes in
the way police handle cases of sexual violence in India.
2.
Sohrabuddin Encounter Case (2005):
The Sohrabuddin Encounter
Case was a high-profile fake encounter case in India, where Sohrabuddin Sheikh,
a suspected gangster, was killed by the Gujarat Police in 2005. The police
claimed that Sohrabuddin was a terrorist and was killed in an encounter, but
investigations later revealed that the encounter was staged and Sohrabuddin was
actually abducted and murdered. The case also involved the killing of
Sohrabuddin's wife, Kausar Bi, and the disappearance of a key witness, Tulsiram
Prajapati. The case led to the arrest of several high-ranking police officers,
including the then-Deputy Inspector General of Police, D.G. Vanzara, and the
then-Minister of State for Home, Amit Shah. The case highlighted issues of
police brutality, fake encounters, and political corruption in India.
3.
Vyapam Scam (2013):
The Vyapam Scam, also
known as the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam, was a
massive admission and recruitment scam uncovered in 2013 in Madhya Pradesh,
India. The scam involved the manipulation of entrance exams for medical and
engineering colleges, as well as recruitment exams for government jobs, with
the goal of securing seats and positions for undeserving candidates. The scam was
perpetrated by a network of officials, politicians, and middlemen, who used
various methods, including bribery, impersonation, and forgery, to influence
the results. The scam led to the arrest of over 2,000 people, including
high-ranking officials, politicians, and businessmen, and resulted in the
deaths of at least 50 people, including witnesses and accused individuals. The
Vyapam Scam highlighted issues of corruption, nepotism, and the exploitation of
power in India's education and recruitment systems.
There are numerous cases in which
police officials itself aids in committing crimes so that people are feared to
address polices to report any crimes which has happened to them. I would like
to highlight Mathura Rape case[20]
in the year 1972 where The Mathura rape case was a highly publicized incident
in India that occurred in 1972. Here are some key facts about the case:
Mathura, a 16-year-old tribal girl,
was raped by two policemen, Constables Ganpat and Tukaram, inside a police
station in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. The incident occurred on March
26, 1972, while Mathura was in police custody for allegedly being with her
boyfriend, who was accused of theft. The police officers claimed that Mathura
had consented to sex, but she alleged that she was forcibly raped. The case was
initially dismissed by the lower court, but was later taken up by the High Court
and then the Supreme Court. In 1979, the Supreme Court acquitted the accused
policemen, sparking widespread outrage and protests across India. The case led
to significant changes in India's rape laws, including the insertion of Section
114(A)[21]
in the Indian Evidence Act, which presumes that a woman did not consent to sex
if she is raped by a person in authority. The case also led to the formation of
the Indian women's movement and highlighted issues of police brutality, gender
bias, and the need for legal reforms to protect women's rights.
Even today crimes against women like
rape, harassment and sexual offence are increasing and where police itself aids
in doing so. So in this modern society people have to set in mind that when
something bad happen police would come and protect us but now police itself is
indulged in the activities of crime.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:
The data
shows that the public displayed a mixed response, based on what they saw and
experienced. The second section of the chapter
delves into the different kinds of fears and apprehensions of the general
public during the time of the lockdown.
THE STRENGTH OF THE RURAL POLICING:
CRIME RATES BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS:
DISCUSSIONS:
Even though in rural and urban area
the crime rates are increasing. When you narrow down violence against the
person in rural areas are at 93%. Here it comes, that crimes like poaching,
hunting of wildlife animals, smuggling of woods in forest, crime against women
and children are high in rural areas. Mainly this happens because of the lack of
policing force and control. In remote areas the police station would be far
away and the residential area would be at some other place. So it would be
easier for the perpetrator to commit a crime without any fear in the mind and
also police is also lacking technologies to find the accused and they also
escape from the part of the crime scene. This creates a lethargic in the mind
of the criminal to commit the offence and act as he wish to live in the
society. So it is in the hands of the law and the enforcement department that
stringent laws should be made for both people and rural policing. Now the Model
Police Act of 2006 has included provisions related to rural policing .So
effective steps should be taken in rural areas to develop infrastructure,
training staffs and stringent laws.
SUGGESTIONS:
The research narrow down the
challenges faced by rural policing. This paper highlights both the problems of
polices as well as the people suffering. The police are a person who should be
there always to protect the people wherever the place might be. In the present
dynamic society the trust which is kept on the police is diminishing. In order
to stabilise the trust the polices in the rural areas should be recruited on
the basis of training; their mind should not go in a wrong way to aid people to
commit crime and get corrupted. To avoid this the law should adequately meet
the essentials of polices in both rural as well as urban areas to give them
safe environmental workplace, good communication, network facilities in remote
areas, shelter facilities and regular payment if we satisfy the needs of the
polices they will not have pressure and anger towards the society. They by
themselves work for the society and protect the people and catch the culprit
and put them behind the bars. Awareness should be given to the people as well
as to the policies so that there would be a friendly relationship to enforce
law.
CONCLUSION:
“Small Towns, Big Challenges: The reality of
Rural Policing” - I would like to conclude this research paper that even though
many provisions, stringent laws are there but the crime rates are kept
increasing only. In rural areas the possibility to escalate crimes are there in
order to eradicate that the legislative should take effective measures, proper
training to police personnel shall be provided and safe environment to the
women in workplace. Now the on-going incident, which happened in Kolkata where
the doctor was brutally raped and murdered. Doctor is a person who saves
everyone’s life but there was no body to save the doctor at the date of the
incident. Here comes to the light the higher officials were also involved, no
CCTV camera setup, at the incidence of crime no police cops were found, the
crime scene was not marked and the police did not report the place of crime and
they acted negligently on seeing all these it is creating fear in the mind of
the civilians that whom to believe and whom not. Even the police officers are
involved in crime. Then another case in which Pollachi rape case many women
were tortured and raped by the sons of politicians in which the police itself
got money from the officials and did not take any action in arresting the
culprits. From viewing all these we could not come to a conclusion that all
policies are like this. Many humane polices are there and stringent laws should
be framed to eradicate crime rates in India.
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1.
Ahmed Siddique’s, Criminology
penology and vivtimology, Eastern Book Company, New Delhi,17th
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2.
Robert C. Davis, Arthur J. Lurigio,
Susan Herman, Victims of crime, Sage publication, California, 3rd
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3.
Brain Frost, Natural, Sources and
Remedies, Cambrige, 8th edition.
4.
GeorgeF. Cole, Christopher E. Smith,
Ciminal Justice, Wasdworth Publishing company, US, 2nd Edition,2005,
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Amar Kumar Pandey IPS, Doctor,
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Societies (CSDS), New Delhi
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https://indiankanoon.org/doc/143561844/
[1] Model police Act 2006
[2] Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(n.d.) Full-time law enforcement employees.
https://ucr.fbi.gov/crimein-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/topic-pages/tables/table-74
[4] National Institute of Justice.
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agencies equipped and trained? http://bit.ly/2GHjypq; Weisheit, R. A., Falcone,
D. N., & Wells, L. E. (1994). Rural crime and rural policing. Washington,
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[6] 7 Sale, J. L. (2009). National
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[8] Uma Maheshwari Case 2004
[9] Gokulraj v. State of Tamil Nadu
(2016) SCC 1113 of 2016
[10] The National Initiative for
Building Community Trust and Justice. (n.d.). Implicit Bias. https://trustandjustice.org/resources/intervention/implicit-bias
[11] P. Jayaraj and J. Bennicks v. State of Tamil Nadu
(2020)
[12] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/record-number-us-police-officers-died-suicide-2019
[13] Vahitha vs The State Of Tamil Nadu on 22 February,
2023
[14] https://indiankanoon.org/doc/143561844/
[15] Bureau of Justice Assistance. (1994). Understanding
community policing: a framework for action.
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/commp.
[16] “Reaching Rural policing: Challenges, implications
and application” by Marilyn J. Wooley, Ph.D. Shaneika Z. Smith, M.A., M.S.
[17] “Reaching Rural policing: Challenges, implications
and application” by Marilyn J. Wooley, Ph.D. Shaneika Z. Smith, M.A., M.S.
[19] P. Jayaraj and J. Bennicks v. State of Tamil Nadu
(2020)
[20] Tuka Ram And Anr vs State Of Maharashtra on 15
September, 1979 AIR 185, 1979 SCR (1) 810
[21] Indian Evidence Act 1872