Muslims, Dalits not disposed to crime, says survey report
In a revealing survey conducted among police respondents in Punjab, a significant majority has expressed the firm belief that neither Muslims nor Dalits are naturally predisposed to criminal behaviour.
As per the “Status of Policing in India Report’ (SPIR)”, done by the Common Cause and Lokniti-CSDC organisation, this finding marks a departure from perceptions prevalent in other regions of the country and highlights the unique stance of the state’s law enforcement on issues of crime and community relations.
According to the survey data, an overwhelming percentage of police officers in Punjab (over 80%) contend that Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis do not have inherent tendencies towards crime. This belief was notably stronger among Punjab’s police compared to respondents from other states, indicating a profound suspicion of the stereotype that links specific communities to criminality.
The survey also highlighted law enforcement’s approach to public safety issues. The Punjab Police reported the highest proportion of arrests related to loitering and public nuisance, accounting for 60% of the total arrests, significantly outpacing the other states surveyed. This reflects a proactive stance on maintaining public order, despite the low association perceived between crime and these communities.
When it comes to justifying the controversial practice of torture, police respondents from Punjab displayed a relatively low tolerance. Only 15% reported a high propensity to justify such actions, while a considerable 30% indicated a low propensity and another 30% showed a very low propensity.
Furthermore, Punjab has been identified as one of the states with the least justification for mob violence, especially concerning allegations of cow slaughter. A robust 62% of the respondents stated that mob violence was not at all justified, aligning with similar findings from states like Kerala and West Bengal, which also exhibited low levels of justification for such behaviour.
The survey not only sheds light on the perceptions of crime among law-enforcement officials in Punjab but also reinforces the significance of community relations in upholding justice and security in the region. The findings suggest a move towards a more equitable perspective on crime with respect to community background, which could potentially influence future policing strategies and community outreach programmes.
The Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR) 2025 was released on March 26 at the India International Centre by a distinguished panel of experts, including Justice S Muralidhar, former Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court, Vrinda Grover, lawyer and activist, Dr Amar Jesani, public health expert and the Editor of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, and Prakash Singh, IPS (retd) and a former DGP of UP, Assam and BSF.
The Punjab angle of the report studied by The Tribune talks about the response of the Punjab Police respondents. Sixth in the series, the SPIR 2025 on “Police Torture and (Un)Accountability” is the only report of its kind in India to focus on police high-handedness and custodial violence at police stations across the country.
80 pc Punjab cops hold this view
An overwhelming percentage of police officers in Punjab (over 80%) contend that Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis do not have inherent tendencies towards crime. This belief was notably stronger among Punjab’s police compared to respondents from other states, indicating a profound suspicion of the stereotype that links specific communities to criminality
Punjab