Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Julio Ribeiro spoke to Preetha Nair about Delhi Police and more. Ribeiro was also the DGP of Gujarat and Punjab. Excerpts:
Delhi Police has been widely criticised for its alleged high-handedness.
Unfortunately, most of our police forces are now being dictated by their political bosses. They find it difficult not to comply with their master’s mandates. During my tenure in Maharashtra, we didn’t face much of a problem. Normally, in matters of truth, the political bosses would like you to believe that their party is not involved. They also know that it’s difficult to hoodwink everybody in that manner. We also have adopted an even-handed approach in these matters. There were riots in Mumbai and we used to be very even-handed in dealing with them. But now, this is totally one-sided and I have never seen this kind of a situation before.
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You’ve handled many riot cases in your career. What is your criticism of Delhi Police’s handling of last year’s Delhi riots?
While handling riots, we would charge both parties. Here, the Delhi Police commissioner said that he charged both Hindus and Muslims in the Delhi riots. But the main people, who instigated the riots, have been left out. Nothing has been done to them. That is very unfair and not something that we are used to. How will people believe us if we do that?
I have seen on television how these leaders shouted goli maaro and ‘they have to be shot dead…’ and all sort of things. This is what excites lumpen elements. It’s quite clear that who started the violence. But they are not touched at all. This is extremely disturbing.
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Do you think Delhi Police is prejudiced in the riots investigation?
They are obviously working under the master’s instruction and they don’t want to go against them. It happens when you have strong-headed bosses. In Maharashtra, we have seen only one such political boss—A.R. Antulay. People used to worry about what he will do. He was a bully against people who stood up against him.
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Delhi Police alleged conspiracies in the riots and R-Day violence. Is there a pattern?
In the farmers’ protest, the police are saying that Khalistani elements have played a role. The toolkit cannot be a part of the conspiracy. The toolkit is read by everybody, including retired Supreme Court judges. It is not stated anywhere in the toolkit to overturn the government by force. A toolkit is a common tool for any protest. A toolkit says how to go about a protest. But the police came up with the role of the Poetic Justice Foundation and its founder Mo Daliwal in the case. They would know. I wouldn’t know. But nobody will believe if you say that the young girl from Bangalore supports Khalistan. Her arrest was dramatic.
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Is the toolkit seditious?
There is no sedition involved in this case. That much is certain. Even in the bail order, the judge questioned the police about the connection between the events on January 26 and the toolkit. There is no connection.
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There is criticism about the police’s casual invocation of stringent UAPA and sedition charges against the accused in Delhi riots cases.
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is dangerous and they invoke it whenever they want. The police are using it just to keep people in the lock up. That is why our jails are full. There is no place left in jails. In normal crime, one gets bail. But in UAPA, it’s extremely difficult.
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