Aren't the police supposed to protect citizens? Isn't it their duty to protect the weak who are unable to protect themselves? How does a police officer excuse himself from doing his duty, when he stands by watching a boy being beaten to a pulp? That is exactly what happened yesterday at The Ambedkar Government Law College, one of the oldest government colleges in the country. The agitation began between the Dalit and Non Dalit students because of a poster. Media crews had footage of a young law student being thrashed by atleast 5 other students, with lathis, while the cops stood hardly 5 feet away watching the entire episode calmly, doing nothing to stop it. The poor boy lying on the ground, covered in blood, couldn't defend himself.

It is a known fact that, in this country, lawyers and cops don't get along. It is also a fact that law students can be thugs. So was it a personal grudge? The Madras High Court immediately said that the media should use discretion while broadcasting the violent footage. What a joke! The Chief Minister did not fire the police commisioner, only tranferred him because he is a permanent employee. The comissioner wasn't there so you can't really blame him for the behavior of the junior officers. However, every single officer who, stood outside the gates of the college, watching events unfold, should be fired. They are a disgrace to the uniform they wear and should be punished appropriately for their misconduct. Instead of asking for discretion, the High Court should have issued arrest warrants for the police and for the students who were beating each other up. The police, who are so worried about the morals of the citizens of Tamil Nadu, don't seem to have any of their own.