Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi has suggested that civil defence personnel could be the initial responders to student protests instead of riot police, aiming to prevent direct clashes and accusations against the police force. This proposal follows recent criticism of Delhi Police for their handling of student demonstrators during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march on July 20. Bedi, in a video shared on her official account, compared this approach to how the Border Security Force operates at borders, emphasizing the importance of civil defence as the primary point of contact during student agitations.
Bedi highlighted that the civil defence team could be equipped with protective gear like cane sheets, body armor, and helmets but would not carry sticks. She suggested that the riot police should be on standby to safeguard life and property, intervening only if the civil defence line is breached or endangered. Notably, civil defence units are present in every state, enabling swift mobilization and deployment during student protests to mitigate conflicts and save time and resources.
Emphasizing the role of civil defence in de-escalating tensions, Bedi stressed that involving them as the initial interface with student agitators would shift responsibility onto the protestors to avoid provoking riot police intervention. By ensuring that armed police intervene solely to protect life and property with valid justification, civil defence could serve as impartial witnesses, reducing the likelihood of allegations and counter-allegations in such situations. Bedi concluded by suggesting that this approach merits serious consideration for managing student protests effectively.
