Times View

BANGALORE: For the second time in less than a week, conscientious policemen were at the receiving end of highhanded politicians in their line of duty.A Congress MLA partying beyond the stipulated hour at Skyye, an upmarket lounge bar, allegedly abused, chased and slapped two constables who came in to enforce the law past Tuesday midnight.He stamped their camera and threatened to 'strip' them in the assembly.Hungund MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar, 42, was celebrating his birthday with family and supporters on Tuesday evening. An alleged rowdy-sheeter was also part of the group. Liquor and loud music flowed freely in the lounge bar on the 16th floor of UB City , Vittal Mallya Road, well past the forbidden hour.Someone tipped off Cubbon Park police station about the revelry. "Around 1am, we got a call saying loud music was been played at Skyye bar, and liquor was being served beyond the stipulated time of 11pm. Two constables equipped with a handy cam era were sent to the spot," Cubbon Park police said."We've directed our staff to videograph all illegal activities that come to their attention, so we have evidence in court," a senior officer told TOI.It was around 1.10am when two constables arrived at Skyye. When they began to film the party , Kashappanavar raised hell."The legislator asked us what we were doing. We told him they were partying be yond the stipulated hour, so we were recording the illegal activity. We said we were acting on the basis of a complaint. The MLA asked us if we knew who he was," the policemen were quoted as telling their higher-ups."He snatched our camera. We warned him that he was attacking policemen on duty. He began abusing us, and slapped me on the left side of my chin," one of the policemen said.Lawmakers taking the law into their own hands is old hat. Increasingly and worryingly, it is now being targeted at cops, the people who enforce the law on behalf of the executive. In the most recent instance, Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar slapped a cop for doing his job. Just last week, another MLA, from Bangalore, allegedly slapped a traffic policeman. Such loutish behaviour we once thought belongs to badlands.But MLAs, fuelled by a sense of entitlement, are increasingly breaking the law and preventing the police from functioning. This is highly deplorable. The chief minister should take stern action against law-breaking MLAs. Only such tough measures will ensure that they do not go back to behaving badly and breaking laws.