Some lessons from recent violence in Nagpur

• Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram are being increasingly used to incite persons of certain community in couple of hours without any apparent preparation. Similar situation prevailed in riots in Bangalore & Delhi in recent past.

• Vehicles like tractor trollies full of huge stones were rushed in from neighbouring outside places in a particular direction with a target of attacking particular community

• Houses identified by Tulsi and vehicles having Ganesh idols were subjected to brutality & arson

• Police officers were subjected to violent attacks including by axe, stones and swords

• Swords from ancient period were available with a section of attackers. These continue to be stored unchecked.

  
  

  Lessons:

  Continuous monitoring of social media platforms either technically or by being members of groups run by suspected persons

• Enforcing ‘Nakabandi’ to check movement of vehicles & suspicious persons towards a particular direction suddenly

• Keeping adequate reserve police squads equipped with riot control equipment including helmets, shields, tear gas , and weapons to meet any contingency in sensitive police stations

• Have ‘police mitra’ in huge numbers who can inform police about suspicious developments in advance and also work with police during riots

• Police officers should not rush to such spots without helmet and adequately prepared , else they are victims and sustain serious injuries or even deaths

• Constant dialogue with sensible leaders to avoid flaring up of tempers

• Instruct corporation officers to ensure no construction material is allowed on roads as the same can be used as missiles

• Remove road blockades including tyres regularly as it hinders movement of police, fire brigade and ambulances in emergency

• Continuous preventive action against known bad elements who take disadvantage of such situations and create ruckus

• Have regular mock drills , once in six months , by police even when there is peace to face such violent situations

• Police also need to be more equipped during the month of Ramzan as most of the riots have taken place during this period. This is allegedly linked to incitement in the name of battle of Badr, where on 17 th day of Ramazan Prophet Mohammad had attacked his enemies at Badr.

  
  

(The author is a former Director General of Police, Maharashtra.)