WE wonder when, if ever, the police would learn to treat a citizen with due respect and civility. The haughty mindset that leads them to act in the most highhanded manner with the common man on the street is reflective of a colonial mindset perpetuated by a regime of impunity the members of the law enforcing agencies arrogate to themselves. What else can explain the reason for a university teacher being beaten up by policemen? 

The teacher in question was going to catch a train when he was stopped by a sergeant on duty for checking of the vehicle's and driver's documents. Certainly a policeman can stop any vehicle anytime to check the papers. And if there is anything wrong with the documents then there are procedures to deal with that. But why must a policeman feel it necessary to manhandle a person? And that too after the teacher had given his identity? And it seems that one's association with a university or a media concern invites special wrath of the police as evident from reports. We wonder also whether a private car can be requisitioned at anyone's whim. It is in the law of the jungle and not of a civilised society where one sees such barbaric treatment of an innocent person by the police. 

There must be an attitudinal reform in the police. They must understand that they are to provide help to the people while going after the criminals. And that must be done remaining within the bounds of the law which the members of the law enforcing agencies are themselves not above. Such errant policemen must be made examples of.