AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

        Give it to our city's policemen. They have an uncanny knack of being in the news — for the wrong reasons. They beat the moral drum as loud as any other under the illusion that they are making Chennai a better place to live in. With sickening regularity only they can think of their boots taking them to the Marina. They did that last week, pouncing on unwary couples, pocketed their watches, phones, rings. A pile they must have got. The victims were herded into a jeep, or marched to the lock-up, charges were slapped on them.

        The next day's papers get clinical handouts of eunuchs, pimps, womanisers being rounded up. The English press laps these up as fillers angry, justifiable, reactions follow. The top brass is out with a sop, innocent couples will 'hereafter' not be questioned.

        One, however, cannot ignore public opinion. The people do not want this moral instruction from bullies driven by hubris. Let them put their house in order first, is the voice raised. Hear these citizens speak. Which policeman's hands are clean? There are serious charges against senior IPS officers - who have not even been suspended (at least till their case is settled) not to talk of dismissal after judgement. Half the wives of the constabulary will tell you that their husbands do not drink only when they're asleep, are rarely at home — do they they ever come? The list goes on. Some fun is thrown in too.

        Some weeks ago two men in uniform get into a fight over the spoils on the ECR, motorists stop in their tracks (the 10 minutes entertainment is worth the wait) and drive on. They have something to talk about. These are the men who crawl on the beach, telling young men and women how to lead their lives. Back to the issue. But has anyone heard of the well organised bordellos being raided, of the mafias running them being caught, the clientele who have a lot of clout, or the sons who wield power. Why? Because the whole thing is a racket, in which all are inextricably involved. Why? Because there's money in brothels, a lot of money.

        All this is not to say that wrong-doers should be let loose to pound the streets and alleys, or that prostitution should be permitted .Oh, no. Our youth only wants to be spared harassment. So, let those in their 20s and 30s meet, talk, stroll (even hand in hand), spend their leisure. They, surely, know what they are doing, even the inherent dangers. Most of those hauled up were in responsible positions in society, enquiries showed. It was embarrassing, them being taken to the lock-ups, it was traumatic getting out and the next day talking of it.

        The moral — do not tread on privacy. Worse, the escorts, whom the hapless would not have been caught seeing with in public. What every adult in his senses says is let these lawmen do what they have to do and to that well. Solve the many murders, bundle the burglar, grab the land- grabber. Garner the guts to gather the sons and henchmen of party leaders, tell them to shut up and not argue when questioned. Try getting 10 faultless officers. Who will cast the first stone at the wrongdoer?

        To cap it all after last week's sordid raid on the seafront, the big boss blandly said these draconian measures are needed, but, hereafter the 'innocents' will not be touched, These statements, are they mere clearing measures of the decks for new transgressions? How are you going to pick the wolves from the sheep? By spying? Answer that, please, Mr Commissioner of Police.