In 2014 too, 557 policemen were injured in lathicharges, compared to 262 civilians.
New Delhi: WHENEVER
POLICE have lathicharged rioters or protesters, the number of injured
has tended to be higher on their side — nearly twice as much, according
to the latest crime data by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). In 327
lathicharges in 2015, 696 police personnel were injured to 298
civilians.
In 2014 too, 557 policemen were injured in lathicharges, compared to 262 civilians.
The
highest number of police personnel injured in 2015, 411, was reported
from Jammu and Kashmir, compared to 24 civilians. In the ongoing protest
this year following the killing of Hizb-ul Mujahideen militant Burhan
Wani, however, more than 5,000 civilians have been injured in the
Valley. Injuries to policemen and paramilitary forces have touched
3,000.
Uttar Pradesh is one state where civilian injuries were higher than police injuries in 2015 — 197 to 90.
“The
figures show that police do exercise restraint and only after crowds
turn violent do they use lathicharge or non-lethal weapons to control
them. In the ongoing unrest, too, police have suffered a large number of
injuries and only then charged at the crowds,” a J&K police officer
said.
Fatalities on the side of civilians is generally high in
such situations. The year 2015 saw seven civilian deaths in lathicharges
compared to none on the police side. In the ongoing unrest in Kashmir
too, more than 65 civilians have lost lives compared to one policeman.
In 2014, however, two policemen were killed against one civilian.
Police
firing leads to higher casualties. In 2015 there were 156 firing
incidents in which 42 civilian were killed while eight policemen died.
Injuries were again higher on the police side, 177 as compared to 39
civilians.
Maharashtra (33), Rajasthan (35) and UP (29) have
reported the highest number of police firing incidents in 2015, with the
highest civilian casualties (9) in UP.
Riots (political,
communal or agrarian) account for the highest number of lathicharges,
apart from most casualties and injuries. In 2015, police opened
lathicharge 145 times to control rioters. In these incidents, 375
policemen received injuries as against 82 civilians. The highest number
of civilian deaths (13) also occurred during control of riots. The
highest number of police firing incidents, 30, however, was when police
were trying to effect an arrest.