Cops, crimes
Sir: It is a matter of grave concern that the law and order situation in the state is taking a major hit. Several cases of housebreaking, theft and robbery are being reported, and even the homes of judges are not spared. The problem apparently lies in the failure of the police to keep track of activities by anti-social elements and gangsters. Blaming the police alone will not help. There is the serious problem of lack of manpower. Several vacancies in the police department are lying vacant while the population of cities is growing by the day. The mismatch between the two is adding to the problems. Lack of proper training or discipline for the police force in the state is also a
serious problem. The tendency is to take things easy. Those police officials who have the support from the political bosses take things more easy. The people are the ultimate sufferers.
SK Panigrahi, by EMAIL
Sushma, Lalit
Sir: The Sushma Swaraj episode has come us a surprise. On the one hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is talking big about checking corruption and bringing back black money stashed abroad, and on the other, this is happening. Lalit Modi is the epitome of both corruption and black money menace if the reports against him are correct. There already is a blue alert sounded against him, which has now been raised to red alert. The Union Government, instead of trying to get him back to India and face the law, is providing him kid glove treatment. This is unacceptable. While just one action from a minister does not necessarily call for her exit from government, as the Congress is demanding, it is important that ministers are extra careful about their actions in future.
Sandeep Mohapatra, BHUBANESWAR
Army, Myanmar
Sir: With the surgical strike in Myanmar, India has shown its determination to isolate and finish terror/extremism/militancy and made it clear that no such act would be tolerated any more even from across the border. The military action has served its purpose and the humming and hawing from the Pakistani establishment in its aftermath amply demonstrated that the right lesson has been sent across to them from India. Unfortunately, the enemy within, the so-called secularist bloc headed by the Congress party has started imparting lessons to the Modi-led NDA government on the need to maintain secrecy about the army operation lest it should hurt India’s relations with Myanmar. It is not necessary that every successive government followed the policy of the former Congress governments. At the age of e-governance, nothing remains a secret. And why should there be a secrecy when we have done no wrong. If India can be accused of crossing the border, Myanmar can be accused of harbouring militants. The nation must be taken into confidence on such occasions, which is what the government did.
Satyendra Jena, Bharatpur, BHUBANESWAR
