INTERNECINE ELECTORAL BATTLE-POLITICIZATION VS NEUTRALITY OF CAPFs

 Central Armed Police Forces (CPPFs) play  vital role in ensuring free and fair elections,  maintaining the vibrancy of  democracy and  reputation  of election commission  as an infallible institution.   State  police    unfortunately is identified with  party in power hence election commission heavily depends upon CAPFs  for  conduct of  free and fair elections. CAPFs have  proved their mettle time and again justifying the trust reposed  by election commission and nation.  

Elections schedule  puts CAPFs personnel under tremendous physical and mental stress   due to continuous movement, deployment and administrative deficiencies  making  their task   difficult but CAPFs always came  out with flying colours despite constraints and deficiencies by ensuring integrity of electoral process  earning respect and gratitude of nation.  

Bengal Assembly elections 2021 spread over eight phases have seen unprecedented deployment of Central Armed Police Forces(CAPFs)  for  free and fair elections. There were allegations in air being levelled by  political players of bias against men in  uniform comprising both police and CAPFs in the run up to elections   vitiating  the electoral atmosphere and process.

Bengal assembly elections 2021 have seen  internecine electoral battle  for supremacy unheard in the past. CAPFs have been unfairly and unnecessarily  engulfed in this political slugfest  to raise doubts over their neutrality and their  politicization for electoral gains. The firing incident in border area  of  Sitalkutchi under Matabhanga subdivision of District Coochbehar in North Bengal on April 10  led to allegations that CISF which opened firing  acted unprofessionally   under  directions/pressure  from  political hierarchy.  The political players involved have set a dangerous precedent by targeting CAPFs for electoral convenience.

For elections ,CAPFs are under election commission. There deployment is planned by state DGP/Police who are also under election commission. There must have also been a magistrate  who authorised firing seeing the gravity of situation, only other situation being to fire in self defence even without magistrate. CAPFs neither  directly report to election commission nor  election commission deploy them without the advise of state police hierarchy. If deployment has been directly by election commission without taking state administration in loop is certainly  unfortunate since maintenance of law and order is state responsibility.  

 Big question  arises, why political leadership want to wrap  CAPFs with political colour as per electoral  convenience despite knowing  that CAPFs are highly professional  have their loyalty to national flag and constitution and not political masters. CAPFs being under election commission, being highly trained and professional with  hybrid composition of tactical groups, men under deputation to ECI and nodal officers exercising superintendence ,coordination and control over CAPFs is immaterial unless election commission of India lays binding regulatory control over political parties/leaders to not unduly criticise police and CAPFs for political convenience. Also where such allegations are levelled, parties making such wild allegations may be asked to produce evidence supporting their contention. fair enquiry may be held which  be brought into public domain. In case CAPF personnel are found guilty, action as per law  initiated against them. If allegations are not proved, the political leaders  making such allegations be reprimanded by election commission. 

CAPFs are professional  organisations. CAPF officers and troops at execution level by virtue of their  training, force ethos, conventions and traditions never see through political prism and always regard national flag constitution as  holy in performance of duties. CAPF men are human and  may not be able to keep themselves aloof from vitiated political environment to ward off unsubstantiated allegation and pressure brought upon them  despite doing  duty sincerely and honestly. There is need for CAPF leadership to look into the whole matter holistically and practically and go into all facets of firing by CISF by holding an independent enquiry and taking corrective steps.

Higher CAPF leadership also need to strongly step in to call upon election commission to lay down guidelines for insulating CAPFs from unsubstantiated political criticism which in the long run may effect their neutrality and bring them to the level of police in professional conduct.  If timely and effective  steps are not taken by CAPF leadership, it may lead to  compromised  neutrality of CAPFs.