Pune: In the wake of recent revelations in a section of the media that Pune cops used black magic rituals while investigating the Dr Narendra Dabholkar murder case, the current Pune police commissioner Satish Mathur has directed all the police stations not to conduct any kind of religious rituals at the police station. Some police stations used to conduct satyanarayan pujas or such religious gatherings for connecting with the community where all were invited but the CP has instructed his men instead to organise social get togethers for community connect.
Taking the lead, Mathur didn't attend a prayer ceremony last week when a new unit of Crime Branch was being inaugrated when he told department officials that he prefers to avoid such gatherings when on duty.
Speaking to dna, CP Satish Mathur said, "I am not against any rituals but I personally believe that such rituals must not be carried out in the police station premises or other police headquarters as we all are living in a secular country. I have suggested that police officers don't conduct Satyanarayan Puja or any other rituals in the police station premises as it also spreads a wrong message in society. Policemen must not be tagged as biased towards any religion or come across as superstitious. Instead of puja, policemen can hold a seminars or awareness camps with citizens and arrange social get togethers, where they can interact with citizens. I believe for a policeman, work is only worship."
Not only this but Mathur suggested that religious symbols and forms of idol worship must be avoided to be kept at police stations.
"Instead of keeping religious idols or photographs, I have suggested to police to keep flags of Maharashtra Police and city police at police stations, it will help policemen to remember their duty. This will not only help police but the citizen who approach the police with their grievances will be rest assured that their problems will be addressed without any bias."
However many police officials said that the CP is being extra cautious following the Dr Dabholkar murder probe allegations when media reports suggested that police officials used black magic and even an astrologer to try to get clues on the sensational murder case.
These reports were criticised by many sections of society as rationalist Dr Dabholkar was against the ill-practices of black magic, supernatural, blind faith and witchcraft. Recently, even home minister RR Patil said he had ordered a high level probe into the allegations against former police commissioner Gulabrao Pol and his team.
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