This story is from August 31, 2014

Real life 'Mardaanis' follow the rule book

In Pradeep Sarkar's latest Bollywood action thriller 'Mardaani', Rani Mukerji plays a crime branch cop who chases around a dreaded trafficker.
Real life 'Mardaanis' follow the rule book
NAGPUR: In Pradeep Sarkar's latest Bollywood action thriller 'Mardaani', Rani Mukerji plays a crime branch cop who chases around a dreaded trafficker. In real life too, there are a few examples like Nagpur rural superintendent of police (SP), Dr Arti Singh who during her initial postings as subdivisional officer led C-60 commandos against armed Naxal guerrillas.
Singh did this in the scorching heat amid dense Bhamragarh jungle of Gadchiroli where death lurks in the form of booby traps and ambushes.
But the likes of Arti Singh and her junior IPS officer Nirmala Devi S, posted as Zone-III DCP in east Nagpur, don't follow a set script like an actor because their job requires them to emulate the ten-handed Goddess who destroys evil. Apart from being high ranking cops, both are also wives of senior government officials. Arti's husband Chandra Kishor Mina, who had served as DCP in city, is now SP in Akola district. Nirmala's husband is an IAS officer.
While thirty something Arti is a 2006-batch officer, Nirmala is three years junior to her. The achievements of both these women cops, right from preparation for UPSC examination to job selection and their working styles, are no less than subjects for a Bollywood flick. Though being a qualified doctor who passed out from Banaras Hindu University, Arti chose to don the khaki uniform. Nirmala is a self-confessed village girl from Tamil Nadu who could have flown to US to join any IT company after completing BSc in computer technology.
Though many cops consider policing an art that provides opportunities to implement one's ideas, Arti and Nirmala claimed that in real life policing follows the rule books. This statement underlines that for them there is nothing beyond law. Of course, some improvisations can be made within the framework as per the situation.
Arti says she has thrashed miscreants in public but only when the need arose. "After having led a team in jungle fighting Naxals with heavy guns, the rest mostly becomes routine work. It was not a single operation or solitary one but a regular exercise over a considerable period until the next elevation came through," she said. Her husband Chandra Kishor, also considered a tough IPS officer, was posted as SDPO in the adjoining tehsil of Etapalli in South Gadchiroli. The couple had taken on the Naxals in their individual capacity in the stronghold of the guerrillas.

DCP Nirmala, who is referred as one of the 'Tridev' in city police, has carried out daring raids at major gambling dens. Lakadganj police had carried out a series of raids in a single day last week on her instructions. Several gambling dens were busted and three minor girls were rescued from a brothel in city's red light area Ganga Jamuna.
During her posting as Bhandara SP, Arti went through an acid test in the case of unexplained deaths of three minor sisters in Murmadi village in Lakhni tehsil of the district. The young IPS officer handled the sensitive case with great maturity. The case not only tested her investigation skills but also allowed her to use her knowledge in medicine as the probe direction depended mainly on the forensic findings. Though the case has not reached any logical conclusion till date, Arti did manage to control the political repercussions and tackle the criticism of police machinery.
Arti says political pressure and departmental issues are part and parcel of the system. "Though some politicians have called me up but I cannot recall any pressure. If someone calls up as a people's representatives we cannot ignore it but explain the real issue. The law would take its own course," she said and added, "So far, I have been fortunate to have worked under seniors who always supported me. Definitely, their approach towards work is different. One has to handle the situation as it comes."
Though Arti welcomed concept behind films like Mardaani and Singham, she admitted that such films are leading to increased expectations from cops more than creating a positive image in society. She strongly feels that society is opening up to women in commanding positions in their respective sectors. "There are numerous examples. In fact, I do not feel any different," she said.
DCP Nirmala's views too reflected her grounded approach. Nirmala stated that she had no qualms about leading a daring raid but cannot state the same regarding thrashing a goon in public. "A DCP is empowered by the rules and may not have to flex muscle in the public. A senior cop is assigned personnel who follow orders when it comes to carrying out a lathi-charge or other strict actions," she stated.
She added, "I have already participated in a raid in the city where the situation warranted my presence in plain clothes. If there is a goon to be tamed then probably my constables are the right people to deal with the situation under my supervision."
Irrespective of what effect films like Mardaani and Singham have on society, Nirmala said people expect good work from cops. "An officer starts getting support once people start realizing that he or she is doing something positive. Political pressure or a dominating senior in the department too cannot compel us to do something not within the framework of the law. I have not come across any pressure so far. Someone who is not ready to bend rules may become unpopular but how can one compromise with the law," she asked. She also appealed to citizens to give information about any illegal rackets.
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