STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The recent viral video showing two policemen lifting jackets from mobile carts near Panama Chowk in the winter capital has once again raised hopes of citizen journalists, who are toiling hard in their own domains to make some difference in the lives of common masses and contributing towards checking the rampant corruption in the system.
In the absence of the video, the top brass of the State Police might have passed the allegations as an attempt to malign the image of the police organisation but ever since the video went viral on the social media the same officers had to go on back foot and take note of the deep rooted menace in their own organisation.
There is no dearth of such instances where policemen in Khakis or Blues, and those occupying high offices have been accused of playing ‘big daddy’ and exploiting the vulnerable lot on the streets, in their offices, hospitals, educational institutions, civic bodies, and even courts of law.
Ask any street food vendor, vegetable seller, those providing essential services or others who have stationed their carts across different city junctions they will narrate their hardships and stories of exploitation by different arms of the state machinery including policemen.
Experts say the role of citizen journalists is very important in exposing such murky affairs. It is difficult for mainstream media to remain present to cover each and every happening and with the advent of the technological tools if some pro active citizen journalists start recording such malpractices it would lead to checking the menace of corruption.
“We really feel empowered; whosoever goes out on roads keeps a camera in his or her mobile, which if used properly can see many in very embarrassing situations like collecting money, ‘looting’ essentials, teasing girls, driving rashly, encroaching upon roads, etc”, a group of youngsters told STATE TIMES, adding that action against the shamed two Panama Chowk cops have encouraged them to go whole-hog against wrong-doers.
