COPS COUP IN COUPLE CONFLICT

Jamshedpur is fast developing on the lines of metro-cities. In fact it is sometimes referred to as "mini-mumbai". However it seems it has a long way to go when it comes to accepting couples and courtships. There is no respite for couples in the steel city. Curious and probing looks from the people is not the only thing they have to contend with. The dearth of proper and adequate meeting places and the menace of cops make their lives a living hell.

There is no denying the fact that policemen have to deal strictly with the couples who violate the rules of public places by indulging in indecent acts. It is especially important since some of the popular haunts are frequented by families. However, the policemen have taken to extorting money from the couples, knowing fully well that they are in a position of disadvantage. Cops, who were originally deployed to curb the growing bike-theft cases in the Jubilee Park, have found an easy target in the couples to make some quick profit. If an unfortunate guy with his girlfriend in tow parks his bike in the parking area, he is unknowingly inviting trouble for himself and his girl. The cops would check his bike as soon as he leaves and if the bike is unlocked, it is towed away to hold the couple to ransom. On returning to the parking spot and discovering the theft of the bike, the frenzied couple is met with two choices- either go to the police station and pay a fine or better still, pay a bribe to the cops and leave. The hapless couple of course chooses the latter. The cops know all too well that couples cannot afford to raise a furore or complain to the authorities. They simply have to pay. The policemen, on their part, do not settle for anything less than Rs. 100. Thus they turn a duty into daylight robbery.

There is no doubt that decency needs to be maintained in public places and errant couples should be taken to task by the authorities. This, however, does not give a licence to anybody to exploit their vulnerable position. Illegal extraction of money does not serve any purpose,be it maintaining law and order or keeping the society free from immorality.