Fall from grace

Overnight the Chennai Police has become the villain as their videos of them setting autos on fire and hitting women started doing rounds in the media. The same police that was being celebrated for their support during the initial days of the protest has now has to face the wrath of the public, especially on the social media.

Now, people want the cops in question to be identified and be punished for what they have done. “What the hell are you guys For ? Now bloody answer this . You call Yourselves as Protectors ? Be ashamed and step down !!!! Resign or Find Your Staff and Give them Permanent Resignation !!!! You Know to Detain the Police who spoke for Us . Now Why can’t You detain These guys who damage Public and Private Property, posted an angry Facebook user. 

Another had posted, ‘To all the Police - Don’t You Know Your Sons and Daughters are here in this state? If everyone in Marina had used lathi and violence , am sure all of You would have been fractured or hurt . They used ahimsa which basically you suck at.” 

By and large, the sentiment has been the same across social media platforms with citizens venting out their ire and demanding a probe into police atrocities. Daniel B., who works in the automobile industry says, “There were hundreds of heartening images of cops giving water to those at Marina and those images was part of the picture that made the jallikattu protest an ideal one. Now the videos of cops beating women with sticks, damaging two-wheeler vehicles on the streets and then the worst, setting autos on fire changes everything. If the police has to save its face then find those cops who were guilty.” 

One thing that the Tamil Nadu Police can learn from other city/state departments is the pro-activeness and importantly the seriousness of being on social platforms. 

“They must reach out on social platforms to give their side of the story,” says Balaji V, a social media expert.