Comment Pieces

The Daily Wage Earners of The Indian Police

The street hawker asked me to wait and immediately took 20 rupees from his earnings and paid him (policeman). I asked him was this a regular affair. He said he has to pay every day.

Policeman throwing their weight around, harassing helpless street vendors, demanding weekly bribes as if it is their birth right- all the fore-mentioned are a common sight in India where our oh-so-dutiful policemen abuse their power to hustle traders, who are allowed to carry out their daily business only if their palms are greased. What’s funnier is how it has become a matter of normality for these vendors. Would you rather call it 'under-the-table taxes'? Tell us what you think.