Political Violence and the Police in India

increasing political voience India is challenging the governments ability to resolve conflicts democratically. Combining scholarship with professional experience as a police officer for more than three decades, author K.S. Subramanian sketches the growing crisis of governance in two ways: by assessing the Central Government s police organizations and through case studies of regions and communities bearing the brunt ofpolitical violence. The author is thus able to take the reader behind the scenes whether it is on police partisanship in communal riots in Gujarat, the Home Ministry s approach to the Naxalite problem, the violence against Dalits, or the violation of human rightsin India s North-East. His is a plea for reconciling the modernizing impulses of civil society and the democratic urges of political society. Key Features Identifies patterns and trends inpolitical violence in India Examines how the Government s political machinery has responded Explains why State response has been inadequate Makes concrete recommendations for a change in structures and attitudes