A new book titled “Policing and Violence in India: Colonial Legacies and Contemporary Realities” sheds light on the pressing issues surrounding policing and violence in India. This remarkable 368-page publication, edited by Deana Heath and Jinee Lokaneeta and published by Speaking Tiger, is an anthology of those voices. The book retails at ₹799. It offers a detailed picture of the past and present dynamics of policing in our nation.
The book speaks to the painful moments that have punctuated our desperate call for reform and responsiveness in Indian policing. The exception to this rule is the case of Faizan. He tragically went on to die in custody during the protests against the new Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in February 2020. The sad occurrence is what moved the High Court to act. They condemned his death as a “gross violation of human rights” and reclassified it as a hate crime. The custodial deaths of Jayaraj and his son Bennicks in Tamil Nadu in June 2020 remind us of a horrifying reality. They each died following their arrest for allegedly breaking Covid-19 health orders, highlighting the imperative for systemic reforms to our policing infrastructure.
Through a political and sociological lens, “Policing and Violence in India” explores how colonial legacies have shaped contemporary realities of law enforcement. In their introduction, the editors contend that historical legacies continue to stoke a culture of violence embedded in policing. They think these factors lead to abuse that continues even now. The book calls for urgent reforms to address these long-standing problems. It sheds glaring light on the reality of policing today and how often it expresses a complete unwillingness to respect human rights.
Our own Neha Bhatt recently published a great article that provides a full review of the book. She emphasizes its significance in the continuing debate for police accountability in India. The report illustrates the shocking rate of custodial deaths. It serves as a vital tool for grasping the systemic failures that cause these tragedies to occur with such disturbing frequency.