It has been difficult for us here at The Better India to continue to keep our spirits high during these times. The Mumbai tragedy has shaken our belief in a secure and progressive nation. And when we were just beginning to flounder in our faith of keeping this initiative alive, there appear sparks of hope in the form of people like V D Zhende, who did a great job of saving hundreds of lives during the CST station firing in Mumbai.

Mr. Zhende is a Railways timetable announcer at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Nimisha Srivastava writes about Zhende in this article at IBNLive:

VD Zhende says, “I heard a loud explosion and then I saw public running. So, we started announcing for the government railway police (GRP) and the railway protection force (RPF).” 

However, the police for some reason did not appear on time.

“Only when public started coming with blood all over, I realised that there was some gunfight happening. So I started announcing that all passengers go out from platform 1 and not go towards the main line, recalls Zhende.

We thank people like Zhende and the numerous other unsung heroes who did their bit to save the lives of our countrymen.

Please click here to watch the video interview of Mr. Zhende.
Read the article here.

More often than not, the perception of the police amidst the citizens has not been very good. In fact, even many of our movies have portrayed them in poor light. Due to this, we forget that they too are ordinary human beings like all of us. Friends of Police aims to bridge the gap between the public and the police personnel. Conceived by Pratheep V. Philip, Inspector-General of Police, Social Justice and Human Rights, this group has been attempting to change the perceptions of the police since 1993.

This article in The Week states that “the members of FOP are volunteer citizens who keep their eyes and ears open, and pass on potentially vital information to help the police.”

And what was the inspiration for Pratheep to start FOP:

“I know that our department has a negative image, and ever since I joined the service in 1987, I have had this urge to do something about it,” said Philip. He was wounded in the blast that killed Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur in 1991. “I was lying in a pool of blood thirsting for water. The policemen were either hurt or not around. It was a young boy from the crowd that gave me some water. The incident made stronger my idea of involving the public,” he said.

The help to the police, besides improving their image in the minds of the public, has been significant, says the article:

The volunteers have helped ease tensions, and have provided security at festivals and social gatherings in sensitive areas. Having an FOP volunteer around helps the policemen deal with the public better. “They act as an intermediary. And because they are in plainclothes, it is easier for them to collect information besides convincing the public,” said Philip. From unravelling a murder mystery to preventing a terrorist strike, just about anything is possible with FOP volunteers. “They are a viable option in combating terrorism.”

Read the complete article on Friends of Police here.