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on the fact that Muslims were better
represented during the colonial rule.
e detailed, “the Minorities were
better represented in the colonial
Harmy and police than today… Intel-
ligence agencies and paramilitary forces
in India do not mirror the diversity of
the national population … Assam Rifles
, India’s oldest paramilitary force is
composed primarily of Gurkhas — both
foreign Nepalis and domiciled; though
Assam is nearly 30 percent Muslims, few
Muslims are found in the Assam Rifles.”
Khalidi also focused on the low
percentage of Muslims in the policeforce
of the country. He also drew contrasts
the police composition in colonial India
and the changes that came were made
to come about after Independence.
Khalidi’s focus on the changes since
Independence.
“The division of British India in mid
- 1947 and the abolition of the Princely In recent incidents of that a tiny number of IPS officers.”
States heralded major changes in the ♦ ♦ ♦
composition ,though not in the organiza- violence and riots, the Today, in the Spring of 2020, as a con-
tion of the Police. On 30 June 1947 the police either remained a cerned citizen of this country, I would
Indian Police consisted of 516 officers, like to know these pertinent queries in
including 323 Europeans,63 Muslims and mute spectator or went the context of this latest 2020 pogrom
130 Hindus and others. The overwhelm- a step beyond — it does we have witnessed in New Delhi — How
ing majority of the British officers opted many of those arrested and detained are
for retirement and compensation for not arrest the actual from the minority community? On what
loss of career. and practically all the Mus- culprits but the victims! charges? How many of them are young
lim officers opted for Pakistan. The police teenagers?
officers of Punjab and Bengal were to be In other words, riots And together with this, those ques-
divided on communal lines. The Punjab are made to happen! tions that might sound difficult to ask
Police had a total strength of 35,457 at the but one has to ask, because we are
beginning of 1947. East Punjab was left living in very difficult times — What is
with only 30% thereof on 15 August. The still recruited in states and areas with the percentage of Muslims in the Delhi
Hindu officers and men in the N.W.E.P “martial races”, i.e. in Punjab, Haryana, Police force in terms of officers and also
and in the Sind Police were allowed to Himachal Pradesh and western UP. constables? Also, what is the percentage
migrate to India. In the remaining prov- These so called “martial races” are Hindu, of Muslims in the Uttar Pradesh police
inces a large number of Muslims from Sikh and Gorkha. There are very few force? Do the numbers of the Muslims in
the ranks of the Dy. S P (Deputy Super- Muslims among the jawans and still few- the police force, in New Delhi and also in
intendent of Police) to constable were er among the officers. Officers are fewer Uttar Pradesh, tally with their population
likewise allowed to migrate to Pakistan. partly because Muslims’ educational percentage?
This resulted in a serious depletion of the level, and thus the ability to compete in Perhaps the most significant query
police in all northern princely states of the UPSC examination, is poor. Dalits — what efforts and initiatives are on or
India, and to a lesser extent in Bombay , are also conspicuous by their absence. could get on, to truly sensitize the police
Madras , CP and Orissa ‘.” Christians are well represented in the force, so that any one from any caste or
Commenting on the ethnic and reli- officer class. The Rapid Action Force of creed, in distress or in danger, can walk
gious composition of the security forces the CRPF has a good representation of up the cops and be certain that he or she
in India, he detailed, “There is a clear and Muslims. The composition of police is would stand protected and secure!
consistent pattern of recruitment in the also somewhat similar. There are far
army. The army’s infantry regiments are fewer Muslim police officers, and within letters@tehelka.com

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