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• Friday, November 28, 2008 09:10 PM

  Differences between Indian Police and the US/British versions

  There are significant differences between the Indian Police mode of operations and the US.

  Indian Police is governed by the archaic colonial 1890's law which specifically prohibits the following:

  1) No Central/Federal police agency. The law specifically prevents sharing of intelligence across states (British fear and now Indian).

  2) No intelligence apparatus. The British police were mainly made of brawn and were used to break up anti-british protests. Now the same police is used to break up anti-government protests. Still no intelligence-gathering apparatus.

  3) Political control of Police. The state-level police in India are controlled by political bosses. Even a lowly local legislator over-ranks the HIGHEST police officer in district. This is an indian invention which made sure elected officials control police. The intention was altruistic. But given the level of corruption in india, political control is a dangerous tool.

  These three factors conspire to prevent effective intelligence gathering, sharing of said intelligence and acting upon any intelligence gathered unilaterally.

  More laws like PATRIOT Act will NOT help India unless the police force is overhauled and political control removed.

  Unfortunately, that is the last thing our politicians want and hence we are doomed to face more such attacks and react to them rather than prevent them.

  God bless us.

  —Anandasubramanian Read Anandasubramanian's other letters
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