From correspondents in India, 10:00 AM IST

Not many are aware of the exclusive discussion forum on the Web for Indian police officers - IndiaTopCops@YahooGroups.com. Not even most cops! I wasn't, before I was invited recently by its moderator Nandkumar Saravade to join the forum. Saravade, an active officer with the Indian Police Service, runs the 'group', which has grown to over 350 members. IndiaTopCops is a free and easy-to-use service to send and receive group messages, coordinate events, share photos and files, and more. It provides a platform to young and old officers still serving - the raw and the seasoned; and the retired but not tired, with their instructional pearls and repertoire of educational yarns and experience. It is an electronic meeting place to participate and share, and provide insights, to keep in touch, learn from one another, discuss matters of professional interest, post articles on new trends in policing with focus on technology, and examine governance issues facing the police. All with the hope that it would evolve into a vibrant online community determined to make a change for the better. In the short span of my own exposure to the IndiaTopCops forum and its archives of messages, files and folders, I am fascinated by the variety of topics covered, the level of intellectual debate, the quality of discussion and learning, the opportunity to read from those more knowledgeable, to offer, to take part, and debate one's own point of view. The topics? Police Vision 2010-2020, developments and status of efforts at police reforms, reforms in the criminal justice administration and delivery system, plea bargaining, trial by media, police systems and prevailing practices despite the unifying Police Act of 1861, guidelines for public private partnership, the phenomenon of burking, corruption, narco-analysis in investigation, 'forensic nursing' for 'victim support'; on information forensics - the flip sides and requirements of law for police blogs - their merits, demerits, advantages and limitations; aspects of cyber crime, the mobile revolution in India, tracking criminals through mobile phones; vehicle tracking devices, 'bandhs' and 'hartals', money laundering, Maoism, even female foeticide, and, importantly, the topic of the day - terrorism, the Mumbai blasts discussed and analysed threadbare, the defence of the intelligence community, especially the role of the National Security Adviser unjustly and irrationally attacked in the media. It is also fascinating to experience the breaking of boundaries and hierarchical barriers between seniors and juniors, the superior and the subordinate - to enable free and frank flow of thought in a non-intimidating environment. Reflects Arvind Verma: 'This is in sharp contrast to the earlier period when we had difficulty in even communicating with senior officers. Now that this wall has come down in the virtual sphere, we hope it will bring down the walls existing in the real world of Indian police and bureaucracy.' Elaborates Saravade, the initiator of the forum: 'The dynamics of virtual groups are fascinating; a feature that catches one's attention is the level playing field available to all. Nothing else matters than the ability to articulate one's opinions in a clear, logical and concise manner. An ideal way to overcome constraints of hierarchy.' S. Subramanian finds the Topcop forum highly educative, the views expressed by young officers refreshing. He feels it is necessary for the police fraternity to set 'our own house in order, which we can do ourselves without outside support'. In this context, he welcomes discussions on internal organizational infirmities. He too bemoans the fact that very few young officers are aware of Topcop. Already dubbed one of the most promising developments in Indian policing scenario, IndiaTopCops reflects the positive transformation in police services with many inductees coming in as technocrats and fresh perspectives. They lend a new dimension to police work, initiating well-conceived and impressive projects with lofty objectives suggestive of venturing out of the beaten path. IndiaTopCops completed one year of its existence last weekend - a cause to celebrate and raise a toast. One can see it is well on its way to become the voice of police leadership in India. (Maxwell Pereira is a former joint commissioner of Delhi Police and can be reached at mfjpkamath@gmail.com)

(Staff Writer, © IANS)