Amid rising outrage against police brutality, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reminded young Indian police officers about the opportunities the uniform provides to serve people rather flexing its power.
Modi said that while technology plays a vital role in detecting crimes, it has also led to the suspension of several police officials.
"When a police official misbehaves, loses balance, and commits excess, it often gets recorded on camera and the video of the incidents goes viral. This results in their suspension. Never lose the respect for your Khaki uniform", he said.
Modi's statement comes against the backdrop of the lockdown period in India, which was marred by numerous incidents of police brutality, also highlighted in the media and on the internet.
The viral videos clips of such excesses showed the police abusing, assaulting, and confiscating personal goods over alleged violations of the lockdown that began in March.
The poor and migrant workers of India were never given notice of the Corona lockdown. Many were stranded, flooded bus stations & couldn’t find a ride home.
— Arjun Sethi (@arjunsethi81) April 3, 2020
Now they’re experiencing vicious police brutality.
Video from Telangana, India.pic.twitter.com/VnUSYRTaAP
In great India all rules are for the poor ? What about that wedding in Karnataka ? Why police didn't topple their Vegetables and that big fat wedding ?#Karnataka #lockdown #LockdownVVIPs pic.twitter.com/Wh5yRxl0xI
— Mithilesh Dhar (@Mithileshdhar) April 18, 2020
This is Indian police for you people in lockdown period beating up poor vegetables sellers #coronavirusinindia #coronaworld @JustinTrudeau @realDonaldTrump @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/dwtfQeWF0N
— VIVEK KUMAR (@vivekkumar_May5) March 31, 2020
The row was further fuelled in June with the custodial death of a father and son who were reportedly subjected to barbaric and extreme torture by police for keeping their shop open beyond the permissible time amid the lockdown in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
The issue resulted in nationwide outrage on social media, with people demanding #justiceforjeyarajandfenix. The incident was also compared to the George Floyd murder case in the United States, where an African American man killed in police custody. The accused officials in the father-son duo's death were suspended immediately.
Tamil Nadu. Completely innocent father/son arrested, taken to police station. Their knees crushed, backs beaten. Stripped naked, anally raped. They died.
— Pieter Friedrich (@FriedrichPieter) June 26, 2020
"Please do not let it close, unless & until we get the same justice #GeorgeFloyd's murders did."#JusticeforJayarajAndFenix pic.twitter.com/EqaJAz1WCd
A recent report titled "India: Annual Report on Torture 2019", by a consortium of NGOs, has revealed that 1,731 people in India died in custody in 2019, adding that the majority of them belonged to margianalised communities.
Meanwhile, a senior Delhi police offical has told Sputnik that while they are in the service to the nation, their few mistakes get highlighted.
"People need to understand the sensitivity of the situation. We are doing everything possible for them from taking them to shelters to providing them food and rations", the police official said on the condition of anonymity.