NAGPUR, Nov 4: In a role reversal of sorts, policemen, who usually lend a ear to the woes of others, poured their hearts out at a convention organised by the newly-established Maharashtra Police Welfare Association.

Not many policemen dared to attend the meet. Fewer still mustered up the courage to make speeches. The Intelligence and CID men hovering around could barely hide their presence in the audience. However, the policemen who dared to speak clearly cared very less about the reports that would reach their superiors. They brought out in full measure the hardships they faced everyday.

Inaugurating the convention, Sambhaji Chavan, who has been trying to organise a similar meet of policemen in Mumbai, recounted the problems that he faced in making policemen aware of their rights. He expressed anguish over the poor attendance at Deshpande Hall. ``We are fighting for your cause. The least you can do is to be present at meets like this. Policemen have to stop being scared, otherwise they will never be able to think or act freely,'' he said.

Chavan made it clear that the Association was meant for policemen of all ranks. Presiding over the convention, retired High Court judge Bhau Wahane highlighted the need for policemen to become conscious of their rights. Then they would be able to boost their morale and improve their image in the eyes of the society, he added.

Rekha Ishwarkar of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) had another tale to tell. Her husband, also in the SRPF, was shot in the leg in an encounter with Naxalites in Bhandara district in 1993. As a result, he was handicapped for life. She told the gathering that the government had not given a single paisa as compensation and numerous appeals to the Mantralaya has proved fruitless.

The President and the founder of the Association, Rameshwar Mohod, said the fact that the convention was conducted successfully had given him new hope, the poor attendance notwithstanding. He was the one who was dismissed from service after assaulting Arvind Inamdar, who was then posted as Police Commissioner of Nagpur. He had alleged that during his recent visit to Nagpur as Director General, Inamdar had made efforts to scuttle his convention.

He told the gathering today that Inamdar was his `inspiration'. ``If he (Inamdar) had not driven me to such desperation, I would never have been inspired to launch this movement,'' said Mohod. He lamented that the manner in which policemen were treated in the department reminded one of the British rule.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.