Did all we could: Lalrokhuma Pachuau

Facing his most challenging moment since he took over as the DG&IGP of Karnataka on May 31, Lalrokhuma Pachuau maintains that the exodus of Northeasterners from the state is not an indication of police failure.

 “We have done all we could,” he told Express on Friday.  And several former police officers agree. When asked about the reporting mechanism in his department in the context of incidents in Hubli, Mysore and Bangalore before the exodus began, he said often higher authorities do not hear about small cases.

 “Being the DG&IGP, one doesn’t hear about all the incidents that are reported.  There could be a series of events, like in this case, which aren’t brought to the notice of higher authorities,” he said.

 “We have heard all allegations made against the Police Department being unresponsive in registering cases. We will investigate all these cases and ensure action is taken. We have also reminded each of our officers to seriously act on every complaint they receive,” he explained.

 “It is the duty of every citizen to file a complaint whenever they face any discrimination,” Pachuau said, adding, “We are urging people from the Northeast to stay here and we will protect them.

 But they should also come forward and voice their problems, if any. We are looking into the complaints filed by victims. We have arrested three boys who had assaulted a person and are investigating the cases.

” “The department is trying to understand why people from the Northeast do not complain,” the top cop, who hails from Mizoram, said.  “It might be out of fear, but they need to overcome that to seek help,” he added.

 Claiming that he has issued strict reminders to his department with regard to the allegations, Pachuau said: “I do agree that things could have been dealt with better, but I will not accept that this incident is a failure on the part of the police.

” Former city police commissioner B N Garudachar and Pachuau’s predecessor S T Ramesh lauded the efforts of the police in handling the exodus.  “It is a challenge for the police in any state to deal with such rumours,” Ramesh said.