JAMMU: This can only happen in Jammu and Kashmir, which seems to have overtaken the previous tag of being second corrupt State across the country after Bihar by jumping to number one, thanks to corrupt practices being practiced by individuals and institutions.
Latest in shaming the State is, as usual, the police, which cares two hoots for its own personnel, least to speak about common man.
It so happened on Thursday that a cop was thrashed with a hockey by someone in full public gaze thus not hurting the pride of man in uniform only but also demeaning the entire police force, which is seen as savior by the common masses.
Hurt, more because of the humiliation he was subjected to, than the bang of hockey stick, the aggrieved policeman lodged an FIR with the Police Station, obviously under the relevant provision of attacking a government employee and obstructing him in carrying out his duty.
To his ‘satisfaction’ the police did register an FIR (which is seldom done in many cases pertaining to common citizens even after placating the concerned in several cases).
The FIRs are not denied because of ‘money factor’ or ‘pressures and pulls’ being exerted by superiors, politicians, bureaucrats but the ‘Darogas’ generally hate to see crime graph in their jurisdiction and in their tenure, showing upward swing on the ‘Crime Charts’ displayed in every police station and police Chowki.
According to sources, the FIR lodged by the policeman who was attacked had an anti-climax.
Two days after its registration, the attacker accused was not only welcomed by the SHO of the police station where the complaint had been lodged but also treated with a sumptuous tea before being seen-off for home with due courtesy, of course in lieu of a consideration, which insiders claim to be Rs 25,000.
Sources said that the SHO with sheepish smile did what he is used to be doing ever since getting into police force through back-door.
He is reported to be a ‘blue-eyed boy’ of those who he shares the booty, collected through unscrupulous means, no matter if it comes by a person who dis-honours the uniform but also tramples the dignity of a policeman in full public view.