“Police Media Interaction” a Failure

ADIL MAKHDOOMI
Udhampur NOV 23: A two-day programme on “Police Media Interaction” was organised by SKPA (Sher-i-Kashmir Police Academy) at Udhampur from 21-22 Nov this month. Participants from different media organisations, including MERC students, and police officials of different ranks attended the programme.
Aimed to cultivate a positive image of police in the society, the programme was inaugurated by Kuldeep Khoda, IPS DGP J&K Jammu. On the occasion, Khoda appreciated the efforts of media personnel for presenting a true picture in J&K despite all compulsions and strains. During his entire speech, Khoda stressed on the role of police and media as a mutual responsibility for the benefit of the society. “As human beings let me assure you we are very good to serve the society,” he said.
Media and public administration, Role of media in conflict areas, Yellow journalism, and Role of media in welfare democratic state are the topics that were discussed during the two-day programme. Majority of the guests, which were supposed to deliver their respective talks were not present in the programme. Among the speakers present were Arun Joshi (Hindustan Times), Ashwani Kumar (Aaj Tak), A.K Swaney (Journey Lines), Harbans Nagokay (JK Channel), Pradeep Dutta (CNN IBN), and some persons from Jammu University.
Although the topics were relevant for such an interaction but all speakers were unable to execute them. A few of the speakers complained that they were informed late about the programme due to which their talk does not justify with the topic.
Moreover, the selection of few speakers was questionable. Instead of people from the field, speakers from sociology were assigned to deliver talks on the burning topics like Role of media in conflict areas and Yellow journalism.
Students from MERC University of Kashmir described the interaction as a total failure. They said that the entire interaction was disorganised and misdirected. “They should have involved the speakers from police as well if they wanted a media police interaction. This is going to bring no benefit to the society,” said Rashid, a student of MERC. Some students also called the programme as a picnic.
Lack of professionalism and tolerance on part of media as well as the police were the buzzwords of the interaction. One of the speakers held the increasing number of newspapers responsible for yellow journalism while a few termed it a healthy sign for a democratic state. Apart from this, there were several other statements which were raised during the programme like wrong reportage by media, perception of police about media, perception of media about police, role of media in modern world, and role of agencies in spoiling the public-force relationship in the country but none was shaped according to the situation.
Before valediction session, IGP and director of the academy Ram Lubhaya said, “Militancy is in its final phase and J&K will be in harmony back.”