-M.Kulasegaran, June 24, 2014.

It has been reported that the Inspector of Police Khalid  Abu Bakar (IGP) yesterday stayed tight-lipped when quizzed on a court order compelling the police to recover M Indira Gandhi’s daughter from her Muslim convert former husband and return the child to the mother.

His reaction is most shocking as with committal order having been served on the Police, he ought to say what ought to be said—that the Police will discharge their duties as required by the relevant laws. Silence is not golden.

Just some two weeks ago, the IGP had angered many when he commented that the police would take a so-called middle path and that it would be better for the children in the interfaith custody battles to be kept at welfare homes.

There was uproar all over the country on this unwarranted statement by the IGP. In fact, I had said that it is none of IGP’s duties to take over the work of NGO and social activist but he should just carry out the duties of a police man.

Can the IGP ignore the Court order? I say no, plain and simple. If he is unsure of what he ought to do, he must seek the advice of the Attorney General.

The IGP should know that the whole world is watching his next course of action or his inaction as the case may be. Any delay in discharging his obligations will only increase the uneasiness of law abiding citizens.

I urge the IGP not to further delay the execution of the warrant of arrest. Indira Gandhi as a mother has suffered enough. IGP should instead assist Indira to calm her emotional distress.

He must do the needful as a police man. He should take the right path, and not the silent path or the unacceptable so called middle path.