The police might have to work in any kind of situation and the might have to do all sorts of things. Hence it is important that they are ready for everything. Usually Maldivian police are well equipped.
However, there are areas that still need improvement. Police continues to improve and develop the institutions and their work is praise worthy.
The statement made by former CP Abdullah Riyaz after he was summoned to the police station, shows the importance of torch lights. If the police officers who approached Riyaz with the court warrant had a torch light, the current problems would not have occurred.
Riyaz said that he was not able to read what was on the warrant because the area was dimly lit. He said that at first, he refused to hand over his phone because he could not read what was on the court order. Also, it seems that the policeman put his hand inside Riyaz’s pocket to take the phone. If they had a torch light they would not have to do that either.
Certainly, police officers would not want to put their hands inside the pockets of a former commissioner of police out of respect for the institution. This is a new situation. However, these types of situation will arise in future as well. Hence, it is important that police officers are equipped with torch lights when they are carrying out their duty. Also, the opposition politicians should also have a torch light in case they are faced with a situation like this.
Some years back, riding bicycle without a torch light was an offence that could earn you jail time. Some people who went to jail those days are still in jail because they committed other ‘offences’ like singing and reading the translation of Quran. So it is not clear what will happen to Riyaz in this case.
Riyaz would not have faced any problems if the police had a torch light!
