'Moral policing incidents tarnish image of educational hub'

The police department is responsible for maintaining law and order in the society and the citizens are equally responsible to co-operate with the department and follow the law, said IGP (Western Range) Prathap Reddy.

Speaking after inaugurating a one-day workshop on ‘Human Rights Advocacy’ organised by Department of Political Science, St Aloysius College (Autonomous), on Wednesday, he said that though the human rights are common, the implementation differs in different regions.

Our socital set-up is such that many look at the cops as their adversaries. There are several lacunaes in our justice system, he said.

Even after more than 65 years of Independence, the Police Act of 1861 is still not amended. We still follow the out-dated Police Act, with third-world weaponry and infrastructure, he said and added that the department faces  institutional limitations which affects the performance of the cops.

One can ensure human rights advocacy if people demand a change in working of the policing and law system, he said.

Specialist on criminology and criminal justice, Dr Vivian B Lord from University of North Carolina, USA, delivered the keynote address. She spoke on secondary victimisation by the criminal justice system.

College Principal Rev Fr Swebert D'Silva presided over the programme. Advocating human rights is not an easy task. One will find many oppositions and may also lose their lives, he said and flayed moral policing and said that Mangalore which was known as a educational hub is badly affected with moral policing incidents. Students from other places hesitate to come to Mangalore, he said and asked the police department to take stringent action on drug dealers and hence protect students from becoming slaves of drugs.

Victims suffer from the crime itself and then again from behavior of the legal and medical services that are supposed to help.

They experience great losses from the crime and then from involvement in the criminal justice system. Victims have the right to information, protection, and support and the right to receive financial compensation, she said.

Sessions of 'Women and Health,' 'NGO - Women rights and challenges,' 'Senior citizens rights,' and 'Infomal atrocities,' were held by eminent resource persons.