The word democracy defines a government that provides equal rights and opportunities to its people.
India became a democratic nation after 1951 after the constitution was formally adopted. The Indian constitution extends protection, security, and equal opportunities and fundamental rights to its people. Thus, to ensure that a citizen enjoy all his fundamental rights and freedom the government has set up various institutions, like CRPF, BSF and the police.
Police are a civil authority secondary to the Executive. Under the police there are other organizations like Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The Union Ministry for Home Affairs controls the nationwide Police Service. Police is a state subject and is in direct contact with the society. The functions of police are to maintain and enforce law and order in the society.
Article 19, 1a states, that every citizen of India, has a right to settle down anywhere in the country. Raj Thakre of the MNS party violated this fundamental right when he gave hate speeches against the non-Maharashtrians settled in Maharashtra. For this he was arrested several times by the police. If situations go out of control and conflict occurs it is the police who brings the situation under control to maintain harmony within the State.
Another important function of governmental institutions is to bail the country out in times of internal and external strife. During “Kargil War” the army fought valiantly to stop Pakistani infiltrations from entering Indian territories. Moreover during ‘Mumbai Attacks’ the NSG commandos were called in to rescue the hostages in three of Mumbai’s posh hotels.
Governmental institutions also help the citizens to exercise their fundamental rights. During elections, special task forces along with the police are appointed to make sure that free and fair elections are exercised and that there are no rigging or use of coercive methods are used.
During festivities like Durga puja or Dasara or Ganesh Chathurthi there is usually a great turn out of people on the streets, thus to ensure people safety and to preserve harmony the police forces are assigned.
Moreover during emergencies like during Indira Gandhi’s rule, police assumed special role in preserving law and order in the country, as prescribed by the constitution.
