Editorial
Criminals masquerading as policemen
Uniforms for security forces must come under regulations
A uniform code on the use of uniforms by the police and other forces is now an absolute necessity. This becomes clear through news reports on the random use of police uniforms by gangs as they go about committing crimes in the capital and elsewhere. It is not only the use of police uniforms but also handcuffs that are now a matter of grave concern. We note that there have even been instances where members of criminal gangs masquerading as RAB personnel engaged in crimes, thereby raising some very serious questions about the manner in which this business of uniforms is proliferating.
It is indeed strange, even bizarre, that police uniforms can be easily purchased from such areas as Polwell market in the city. There are two points that arise here. In the first place, uniforms used by the police, RAB, armed forces and similar institutions operating under the authority of the government are supposed to be supplied by these bodies to the men serving in their ranks. So there is an element of suspected pilferage or fraudulent manufacture of these. The second point is that since there are authorised dealers for making and supply of uniforms, it is extremely important to make sure that those who buy them provide full and absolute evidence of their being in the department where such uniforms are a rule. Some shop owners have complained that they are often compelled to sell police uniforms to individuals without verifying their identity because of the rude and intimidating behaviour of those individuals. That cannot be an excuse, for we have already seen the consequences of such unbridled trading in uniforms. We have also, in recent times, observed security men in private apartment complexes as well as organisations wearing uniforms that are worryingly similar to those worn by policemen and RAB personnel. There have also been sightings of young men moving around in fatigues similar to those used by members of the armed forces. These must be dealt with an iron hand lest imposters have a field day.
New regulations about the use and availability of uniforms are now in order. One reason is that criminals must be deprived of such easy means of committing misdeeds. Another is to stop these uniforms from getting into the hands of people other than those authorised to use them.
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