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Title: Indian Policewomen Slap and Punch Dating Couples Post by nOrKAy on Dec 30th, 2005, 5:23am I was reading BBC News online and I came across this weird news about a dating couple being slapped and punched because of dating in a public park in India. Weird! I really can't believe this had happened. Here is the news' story, courtesy of BBC News: Two policewomen have been suspended in the northern Indian city of Meerut for slapping and punching couples who were dating in a public park. Police were carrying out "Operation Romeo", which they said was to target the sexual harassment of women. Anti-police protests erupted after TV pictures showed officers punching and pulling the hair of young women. Police chief Rajiv Ranjan said the drive was to tackle obscenity but the officers had "clearly gone overboard". Shamed couple Mr Ranjan, a senior superintendent of police in Meerut, in India's Uttar Pradesh state, told the BBC: "We took prompt action against two policewomen soon after we received complaints about their behaviour. We have ordered an enquiry into the incidents." He said the police action was part of a drive undertaken at periodic intervals - often at the behest of the parents of young women - to "cleanse" parks and other public places of people indulging in acts of public obscenity. But he made it clear that there was no law which banned men and women walking together in public places or sitting in a park. He said police personnel had no business bothering, let alone beating up, couples sitting together in public. The police action led to angry protests in the city. Students chanted "down with police dictatorship" and burned effigies of officers. One couple told the Aaj Tak television channel they were so humiliated by the TV pictures they had not returned home. Indian media gave the pictures wide coverage, with many complaining of "moral policing". "Is falling in love wrong? Who gave the police the right to beat and hit people and misbehave in such a manner," one woman in Meerut said. Although pre-marriage dating is frowned upon in much of conservative India, couples often meet in parks and other public places. Local lawmaker SP Agarwal said: "Nobody should be allowed to bother them as long as they are not indulging in obscene acts." *********************************** Are you offended by couples canoodling in public? Are you offended by lovers who kiss or cuddle in public? Do the authorities have a right to try and police this type of behaviour? Do you find public shows of affection offensive? I wanted to enter my comment there about this but I instead decided to bring it here and let everyone share views about this kind of incident. So, have your say. ;D |
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Title: Re: Indian Policewomen Slap and Punch Dating Coupl Post by nOrKAy on Dec 30th, 2005, 7:06am Personally, I find it rather idiotic if some people take the excuse of Indian culture to justify this criminal and disgusting behavior by the police. This is the land which gave the world Kama Sutra. These so called culture buffs are really following Victorian culture. In India, courtship or visiting a woman in the woman's house is rarely allowed or accepted by parents. The only place they can meet are in public places. We should also understand that not every couple can just go for a date , take their wallets and rent a room. If that's the case, does that mean only those who have money can have or enjoy a date? What's the big deal if they hold hands or kiss? Do you want them to rent a room in a motel and get on with it? As long as these couples are just holding hands and smooching, they should be left alone. Anything more, they should get a room.There is nothing obscene about holding the hands of a loved one or even hugging them. Of course there needs to be some rules against vulgar acts such as groping in public, etc. I understand the Indian's culture and its conservativeness, but the slapping and punching of the couple by those police officers should not be acceptable. It's rediculous. Besides, police' duty is to ensure public peace and to bring offenders to the justice and let them receive their punishment from the justice. Thus, they don't have the right to do this kind of hurting. I have been in Banglore and Mumbay once and I am more ashamed to see kids begging on the roads of India. I hope that the moral police clamp down on such activities instead.This is absolute rubbish. Policemen/women need to learn first the social skills and etiquittes to speak to people. I am totally devastated by this attitude. |
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Title: Re: Indian Policewomen Slap and Punch Dating Coupl Post by ReeBop on Dec 30th, 2005, 7:29am Yes, I agree this is silly. What, only suspension for the officers? Well, I imagine there should be an investigation but it is clear what the result of such an investigation should be. The chief didn't know this was happening? How about his lieutenants? Dope slaps all around that police department, if you ask me. Secondly, I've forgotten that "canoodling" is such a wonderful word. Thank you for reminding me, Kris! [smiley=whip.gif] [smiley=bobby.gif] |
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Title: Re: Indian Policewomen Slap and Punch Dating Coupl Post by nOrKAy on Dec 30th, 2005, 5:11pm on 12/30/05 at 07:29:06, ReeBop wrote:
Well, what I liked there ,though, after the incident happened, was people took actions. I was happy to hear that the people in India took the police's case for imposing their warped ideas on the general public. At least, the authorities has something to learn about. I am really surprised on how strict they are about this things when they, themselves, Indian policemen, have issues of doing molestations and rapes. I really find this a big hypocrisy of them. on 12/30/05 at 07:29:06, ReeBop wrote:
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Title: Re: Indian Policewomen Slap and Punch Dating Coupl Post by Wicked_Witch on Dec 31st, 2005, 4:35am Oh well...for me there should be a limitations of what a couple can do in public places. I do not condone public display of affections. It's only natural for "sweet" and "romantic" couples. But I draw the line at kissing each other torridly in public...as if they want to have sex right there and then. For me it is only done in the movies. |
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Title: Re: Indian Policewomen Slap and Punch Dating Coupl Post by nOrKAy on Dec 31st, 2005, 8:34am I agree there, Witchy. Although , as ReeBop said that "conoodling" is such a wonderful word, I find the act of canoodling offending to me when done in public. Like what those Indian couple were doing, kissing and holding hands, or even hugging are fine for me--I always say "Awww, so sweet." But canoodling? Which includes caressing, petting and love making, I would say, "My goodness!" Like I said, anything more than kissing, holding hands, or hugging, should be done privately. But, even if lovers do that in public, authorities don't have the right to hurt anyone because of doing that. Well, if it's parents who do that, then I would fully understand them. |
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Title: Re: Indian Policewomen Slap and Punch Dating Coupl Post by dandpatta on Jan 5th, 2006, 9:50am Before we start blaming the Policewoman, let us try to understand the erring policewoman’s point of view. Meerut is in North India – the conservative cow belt of India where religion, superstition and moral mores are the norm. In this region, women going out at night is a big NO NO. Young women going out with boys is frowned upon by a very large population of ‘seniors’. The old generation grew up with just one TV channel to watch. Home entertainment meant watching the bleached government propaganda news or watch some boring, sleep inducing national arts movie which could even shame the pace of a snail. That generation knew nothing of being bold. They dressed conservatively, they behaved conservatively and they carried themselves as such. I have seen the pictures of the policewoman in question and I could safely say that she belonged to the “yester-generation”. Perhaps she went with the ethos of her upbringing and what was morally right and morally wrong. Perhaps she too has a daughter – or a son – who may have gone wayward and actually had done something wrong to the friend of the opposite sex? Perhaps, if yes, then she took the vents on the young 20 something couple. Oh let me go a few steps ahead too. THe local policemen in India make only USD 40 - 50 per month and that too, trying to support huge joint families. Can we not safely assume that the Policewoman was venting out her OTHER frustrations on the kids then? Couples of today in India are much more departed from the moral norms dictated by their older generation (read – Grandpa / Uncles / Aunts). Today’s generation in India has sunconciously let itself be dictated by the brand mentality of western TV channels and ideas. Wearing bold and bolder clothes is the norm in Indian colleges. Going out on dates in colleges – while high browed by the Old Gens, is actually passable by young peers. Material benefits of todays youngsters are much much more than those in other Asian countries. India’s youth is not all that geeky like the western press would have you believed as IT machines working for US companies. The youth of India today is much more experimenting, much more forthright and much more open to ideas. They have certainly departed from the age old STRICTURES of morality imposed by Victorian Courts (thanks to the British Empire !!!!) Having said that, there are still reams of law books in Indian courts that have taken leaf from centuries old Victorian Law. Hopefully, Indian constitution will have these ridiculous laws and regulations quashed and write anew. In the mean time, there will be over-zealous policemen and policewomen who will go on practicing moral policing. You can’t blame them all the whole hog can you? For, even the boldest of the boldest Australian police on Bondi Beach will never say YEA to anyone doing the “BIG HUMPIN’ n PUMPIN' ACT” in full view of people in full daylight !!!! |
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Title: Re: Indian Policewomen Slap and Punch Dating Coupl Post by nOrKAy on Jan 5th, 2006, 11:01am Dan, that entry provides more informations, awareness and understandings of Indian culture. But the thing, is culture is totally different from law. A culture can either be followed or not-- it depends on the individual. Going back to the main issue, I just have one question. Do we have the right to force or hurt someone who doesn't follow a culture ? I suppose a culture can not be enforced just like a law.That's why sometimes you hear statements like; I am a Chinese but I don't practise the culture. Or on other situation, I say; Wether I like it or not, I must comply, because it's what the law says. I understand and respect every individual culture, but it should never be forced to anyone, since I see the situation in Meerut, like, the people are even prevented in doing their right of dating because of these issue of culture. on 01/05/06 at 09:50:25, dandpatta wrote:
NO. I maybe would want to know the reason or view of the police officers why they did this slapping and punching but I would never try to understand or take it as an excuse for their injustice action. On duty police officers can/should never use or carry personal problem or situation to work and vent by using their power and hurt people physically. That should be the thing that is a big NO NO instead, and not to couples who they see expressing love for each other. Moreover, I would rather love to see public show of affection than a public show of violence ! LOL, Dan. I have said too much. Hihi. By the way, really happy to see you back home to HK and to our forum.;D |
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Title: Re: Indian Policewomen Slap and Punch Dating Coupl Post by Wicked_Witch on Jan 5th, 2006, 5:47pm Dan, the first responsibility of police officers in any country is to protect it's citizen. Arresting the offenders is okay , but using brutality to uphold the law is stepping the lines. People do not care what her personal problem is. No one should carry their problems at home to their place of work. It is that simple. What she did is called "police brutality" since she used force to implement her authority. As for punishments, I'm not sure to what extent. But they should be punished. They should be taught a lesson. If they do not earn enough, maybe a year's suspension? [smiley=thinking2.gif] |
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