After a series of incidents, especially in Bihar, vigilantism has come to the forefront. It is the word meant to signify 'active involvement of the society in taking actions against the social offenders'.
A paper carried an article about the mob in a village lynching 10 robbers after they were caught in the act. A news channel showed a robber being chained to a motor bike of a police officer and being dragged in another village. An article in the newspaper blamed that if the police do not quickly intervene and punish the 'mob', this vigilantism may become a menace that can devour the social fabric.
Prakash Jha's movie named Gangajal also brought out the effect of this unchecked vigilantism very starkly. And it also brought out the dilemma of a hero who unknowingly triggers the social action and finds himself helpless when the people go berserk.
Now view this from a different lens. A police force is effective only if it completely absorbs the 'variety' created by the dysfunctional elements in social system. For every citizen, one police is adequate variety, but not affordable. So police enhance their variety, by tracking 'criminal elements' and 'near-criminal elements'. Western police system relies extensively on documented systems, while Indian police system uses informal social network. In India, this works because of the Indian social system. What this means is that police uses the 'people' to catch offenders.
Vigilantism is extreme manifestation of society where people met out justice because the police system has lost their credibility. On the other hand, Police system uses the social system to catch the offenders. If you put 2+2 together, you will realise that police can use 'social activism' effectively, if they change their policing norms and beliefs. They will be able to channelise the energy of social system effectively. But this also means that they will have to relinquish the power which they are enjoying due to their position.
Is the policing system ready? And, equally important, is the society ready for taking up the relinquished 'power and associated responsibility'?
