After Delhi Police brutally assaulted the peaceful protestors at the Ramlila Maidan here to dismantle Baba Ramdev’s fast against black money, there were murmurs of regret among the lower ranks of the force that what happened was unfortunate.
 
A head constable guarding the ground entry gates, requesting anonymity, told Governance now if he had his way, he would have never assaulted the sleeping men and women. “Arey sahab, hamare bas mei kya hota hai? Bas upar se jo order aata hai, uspe amal karte hain humlog” (“We have nothing in our hand we just have to follow the instructions that come from the higher ranks”), he said.
 
A group of five to six policemen including an assistant sub inspector echoed him. “Soye hue jaanwar ko bhi nahi koi paresan nahi kiya jaata. Ye toh insaan the. (“We don’t bother even sleeping animals. They were still human beings”), one of them said.

Asked about reports that there were some drunk policemen who molested women, they said if someone among them did any such thing, it was highly objectionable.
 
As they were getting more candid, a senior officer in a civil uniform shouted, “Why are you all talking to the reporter? Go and do your duty.”  The group dispersed but not before one of the constables said, “Sahab Bhrashtachaar toh hamare police department mei bhi hai... par humlog kuchh kar nahi sakte. Baba toh isi ka virodh kar rahe the (Sir, corruption is in our police system too but we can’t do anything about it. The Baba too was protesting the same.”