A string of recent incidents has put Bihar’s law and order under renewed scrutiny even as police assert that overall crime trends remain under control and challenges are evolving. Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar tells STOI’s Sheezan Nezami how the police are responding and where the key challenges lie. Excerpts:Recent crime incidents, be it Saturday’s chilling murder in Patna’s Lalbagh area, or the Araria murder in which a pickup van driver was beheaded, or the Sultanganj murder inside a municipal office, have raised questions over law and order in Bihar. What do you have to say?Look at the crime pattern. In both Araria and Patna cases, the culprits had a troubled past and were drug addicts. In the Araria case, the accused was a regular offender who used to assault his family members. He had broken his grandmother’s hand and attacked his brother. He was known to the victim. In the Patna case too, the accused was irregular in school and was into drugs. He is a minor.There is an undercurrent in society. Crimes are taking place within families — a man killing his wife or a brother killing another. These are spontaneous crimes and cannot be prevented.
As far as organised crime is concerned, like before 2005 — gang robberies or contract killings — these are not happening now. In the 1990s, the average number of murders in a year was around 5,000. It has now come down to around 24 to 25, while the population has increased nearly three times. Even if there are one or two murders, there is a huge outcry.What about the Sultanganj incident in which a govt official was murdered and later the accused was killed in an encounter? Allegations are being made that the accused was intentionally killed and such a trend may continue.That incident was linked to a tender dispute and economic supremacy. The accused had brought a severed head to a police station 26 years ago. At that time too, the police filed a chargesheet, which is our job. He should have been awarded capital punishment or life imprisonment. Why was he not convicted?As far as encounters are concerned, we arrest an average of 4 lakh people every year, while the average number of encounters is only 10 to 15. Everyone has the right to self-defence, and police resort to an encounter only when there is a threat to the lives of personnel.What is the most challenging task ahead for the police? Which crimes are the biggest concern?Our biggest challenge is cybercrime. With just a laptop and almost no expenditure, one can target anyone in the world. The criminal does not need to travel and can commit crimes while sitting in a room.Incidents of rape are also being reported. What do you have to say on this?Social media and exposure to inappropriate content are major reasons behind such incidents. In several cases, teenagers are involved. They have a mindset that they can do anything and get away with it. There is a lack of fear.Recently, CM Samrat Choudhary held a meeting with top officials on law and order. What were the instructions?Samrat said to further improve law and order and stressed on the safety of girls. Women’s safety has been a priority. The ‘police didi’ initiative is being introduced. Initially, 1,000 female personnel will be provided scooters and deployed in uniform for patrolling and guarding key areas.What message would you like to give to criminals and the public?More than criminals, I would like to address society. Criminals will always exist — sometimes fewer, sometimes more — but family and social control are most important, especially for teenagers.The concept behind the police force is to regulate about 0.5% of the population, and we are doing our duty. There cannot be one police officer for every individual, and we cannot interfere in family or social life. Parenting and family play a crucial role, especially in crimes involving juveniles.
