In the service, it so happened that I was given my first
posting as Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) in the same sub division where
I underwent the district training. I had worked closely with the sitting SDPO,
assisting him and training with him for raids, investigation, law and order
duties, case supervision, etc.. Looked like, my training was incomplete and one
vital piece of training was still missing.
A few
days prior to the scheduled date of my taking over, during some law and order
duty (where I was not present), the Superintendent of Police (SP) and the SDPO
had a falling out and the latter told the SP that he will not make over the
charge of the office to me on the grounds of a pending representation. Miffed
and feeling affronted, the SP sent a wireless message to both of us to hand
over/ take over the charge of SDPO on a particular date and “report
compliance.” After this, he left for some important meeting in Bhutan for a few
days and was incommunicado. On the appointed date, I went to the SDPO
residence-cum-office to take over and the SDPO refused to make over the charge.
Since there was an express order with the proviso to “report compliance,” not
doing so could be construed as insubordination. So I unilaterally took over
charge and sent a message to all concerned. The SDPO, acting on his copy of the
message, directed that it should not be transmitted. The poor subordinate
staff, caught between the ire of a sitting SDPO and potential problems from
incoming SDPO, were having kittens, not knowing what to do, and sought
directions from the Range DIG who could not take a decision, could not contact
the SP who was in Bhutan (pre-Cellphone days!), and, in the best traditions of
civil service, kicked the can upstairs by allowing both my message and the
sitting SDPO’s message to be transmitted to Police Directorate and the
government. However, of directions, there came none. So, every day, whichever
of us got up first used to be the SDPO for the day. This happy state of affairs
continued for about a month after which the guy formally handed over charge on
paper.
I was
staying in a guest house and attending office in the residence-cum-office,
leaving the residence portion for use of my predecessor and his family for as
long as they wished. Whatever happened between the SP and him was not my battle
to fight. I also felt that I owed him for my training and that there should be
an element of grace and cordiality in conduct between brother officers. One
day, when I was sitting in the office, his daughter came to me and said that
they were leaving. I went out to see them off. It was very emotional because of
the circumstances and also because of the past close association I had shared
with the family before the posting bit drew a cloud over it. Meanwhile, there
was this “intelligent” ASI (Assistant Sub Inspector).
SDPO’s
is an operational, field job and there is not much of office work. The Police
Regulations of Bengal (PRB) have catered for a total staff strength of two for
the SDPO office, one “intelligent” (PRB word) ASI and a Constable. This
particular intelligent ASI in the SDPO office also came to see my predecessor
and his family off. He burst into tears and started bawling – not just crying,
but full-throated, no-holds-barred bawling. When the jeep started, he jogged
alongside the jeep for a long distance, tears streaming down his face and
soaking his shirt. The display of unfettered emotion got to me also. I went
back to the office and was sitting thinking about the twists and turns of my
relationship with the previous SDPO when the ASI came back and stood politely
in front of me. When I looked up, he said, “Sahab, bhalo kaaj korben. Aager
saheb toh sub divisioner barota baajiye diye gechhen.” [Sahab, I hope you will
do well, your predecessor has left the sub division in ruins.]
I
asked him how my predecessor had achieved this and on what basis the ASI was
making this assertion so he said all the crime figures shot up under my
predecessor. There was a board behind him detailing the comparative chart of
cases under DRBTM, i.e., Dacoity, Robbery, Burglary, Theft and Murder which he
himself had filled up. I pointed to it and said none of the crime figures
seemed to have jumped; in fact, they all seemed to have come down. He also
looked at the board and, much head scratching later, said, “See Sir, Murder was
only 52 last year, this year it has gone right up to 53!” That day, I realised
that not only should loyalty never be assumed, the outward show of loyalty can
be questionable.
Over
one and a half years of working together, I grew somewhat fond of the ASI.
Shortly before leaving the sub division on promotion, I found that he had
committed a major blunder with potentially disastrous fallout for an election-related
police arrangement and berated him long and hard. He was silent throughout and
his silence got me even more worked up. I asked him repeatedly what he had to
say in his defence and why hell, damnation and severe disciplinary action
should not be visited upon him. He quietly put on his cap, saluted and said,
this time in Hindi, “Galtiyan hote hain Saheb … lekin, wafadaari mein koi kami
nahi.” [Mistakes happen, Saheb … but, my loyalty knows no bounds!]
Funny
thing, loyalty. Like love. Bites you in the leg when you least expect it.
Interesting 👍
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