<B>By Deepa BHOOKHUN</B>

Two case scenarios. Number one: a person is not on good terms with SP Raddhoa and so has to be careful about what he/she says or does or where he/she goes because the man is on a revenge/power trip and will one way or another get even with anyone who stands in his way or bad-mouths him. They then stand to get kidnapped, beaten up and forced into confessing a crime they did not commit.

Number two: SP Raddhoa is an honest, passionate, brave and sincere man who cannot bear to leave crimes unpunished, who thirsts for justice and leaves no stone unturned to find culprits and bring them to court. People, particularly lawyers and criminals, do not like him and will do everything in their power to hinder his work. Which description best fits Raddhoa?

The truth probably lies somewhere in between the two case scenarios. But the problem is, when it is a matter of law and order, when rights of the citizens are at stake, we cannot afford to keep guessing which one of the scenarios best depicts the truth. We simply need to know what the deal is and fast. What is to happen to Raddhoa and what is to happen to those he arrests? Unfortunately, we are still playing the guessing game.

I don’t think anybody has any doubts as to Raddhoa’s competence. But Raddhoa’s competence is not the point. Does competence give him the right to treat people and their rights as per his whims and caprices? You see, one cannot answer this question as long as one has to keep guessing whether Raddhoa ill-treats and mistreats suspects. Or not.

The point is, a police officer, "super cop" or not, is not above the laws of this country. Raddhoa stands before the law with the same rights as the people he is accused of battering. And the allegations and accusations are getting way too much for us to turn a blind ear or a blind eye. What do the authorities propose to do about the Raddhoa case? So far, nothing. The police commissioner has purportedly said, “Raddhoa does not answer to me, he answers to the prime minister.” The prime minister replies: “Raddhoa does not answer to me, but to the commissioner of police.” Legally, the latter statement is true. Then why is there no action or reaction to the allegations?

The problem is, a large part of public opinion thinks Raddhoa should be given leave to do as he pleases as long as the job is done. And a similar number thinks he is way out of line. But law and order is not achieved by holding a population hostage to fear, intimidation and threats. Law and order is not served by allegations of misdeed on the part of an officer supposed to uphold the law.

The rule of law must not only be upheld but also seen to be so. A "supercop" inspires faith and trust, not fear and confusion. The authorities must react; this situation simply cannot go on. The silence at the moment is deafening.