Misrule of law

The demonstrable bias in the Delhi Police investigations of the north-east Delhi riots this February underlines the growing politicisation of the police force as an instrument of repression. This is, in fact, a trend across states and ruling regimes. But the Delhi Police come under the Union home ministry and are expected to set the standards in the exercise of its functions. Their recent actions cannot be described as exemplary by any yardstick. The fact that a senior police officer can openly caution subordinates to exercise circumspection in arresting the Hindu youth because of resentment in the community points to