“Why Is Violence So Deeply Embedded in Indian Policing?”

Gustakhi Maaf Haryana-Pawan Kumar Bansal

By our enlightened reader retired DG,Haryana,V.N.Rai .VNR
It is not just the public pressure that the police indulge in custodial violence, not just the judicial delays that they take law in their hand, not Just the political nexus that makes them register false cases and crush inconvenient protests, not just the harsh service conditions that lead to their inhuman conduct, it is not individual corruption or bravado alone, and not just the colonial roots…. what is it then that makes the violence in policing so integral in India?

GROK (I agree)
The violence in Indian policing stems from a complex interplay of systemic issues beyond the factors you mentioned. At its core, it’s rooted in a culture of impunity, where lack of accountability fosters unchecked power. Structural flaws like inadequate training, poor oversight, and a hierarchical system that rewards compliance over ethics play a big role. Societal tolerance for violence as a means of control, coupled with deep-seated caste, class, and communal biases, often normalizes excessive force. The gap between legal frameworks and their enforcement further emboldens misconduct. It’s this entrenched ecosystem—where power, prejudice, and weak institutions converge—that makes violence seem integral to policing.