India, being the largest democracy of the world, still faces feudalism by its civil services. Today, the citizens of the country prefer to cry over the problem rather than taking some legal action due to the behavior of the police towards the society. Most of the population of the country is scared of the police and they try to escape them even in cases where they could be of help to the nation. All policemen are not the same and some actually dutifully work to what they swore but most of them are catering personal needs through the civil uniform.

There have been many incidents in recent times which have brought the role of our police into question, pointing fingers at the way they function. Police has been accused of brutality and face criticism from the media and the civil society. With recent direction from the Supreme Court, police appointment and tenure are now subject to a more sedate and sensible Establishment Board rather than to the whims and fancies of the political class. There has also been the constitution of a State Security Commission and a Police Complaints Board in many states toward off undue interference in the functioning of the police and to entertain public complaints against the police. But they still have many loop holes and are unable to function effectively.

Filing a FIR (First Information Report) is such a tedious job for the common man as an FIR is often subject to many considerations and is done only after the bribe sessions or in completely unavoidable situation. And even if the FIR is lodged no immediate action is taken. People who seek for security and protection for its life and property today find it helpless. The very fact that certain members of our civil society feel encouraged today to take law into their hands also point to their belief of escaping the mythical long arm of the law. Incidents like the beating and dragging of a chain-snatcher by the police on the roads of Bhagalpur, beating up a local goon for alleged eve-teasing and harassment by local women in Pune, numerous other instances, instances of beating up policemen for alleged failure or connivance point to the increasing penchant of people to take law in their hands and all this definitely has something to do with the way our police functions.

Police force has often been found at the wrong end of the stick as found in many instances where people have not hesitated to drag the police to court for the alleged human rights violations. The criminal have an upper hand over the police.  There is an imperative need to respond to contemporary challenges and demands by way of better training and spruced up infrastructure. For police reforms or for any reforms to be effective, there is a first a need to effect change the picture of the police personnel which is the reflection of the civil society.