The year 1981 saw unprecedented unrest within the Mumbai police force. K.P. Medhekar, the police commissioner at the time, had only served for four months before being elevated to the position of the state's Inspector General (IG). His own appointment as commissioner had been the result of a dramatic upheaval -his predecessor had been ousted following an open threat by the police union to publicly garland him with shoes if he dared to step into the police headquarters.

This wasn't a mere act of defiance; it was a symptom of a deeper malaise festering within the ranks. In October, a brazen act of rebellion unfolded. The police union, openly flouting a ban on assembly decreed by the commissioner himself, orchestrated a massive rally at the Naigaum police headquarters. It was more than just a protest; it was an unbridled revolt. Accusations of corruption, raw and unfiltered, were hurled at the commissioner. 

Senior officers who dared to intervene found themselves surrounded, effectively detained within the headquarters for two agonizing days. The burning of an effigy of the commissioner became a potent symbol of the profound dissatisfaction that gripped the lower ranks. The government, facing an untenable situation, was left with no choice but to replace him.

At the time, Julio Ribeiro was serving as Commissioner of Police in Thane, a city a mere thirty kilometres from the epicentre of this storm. The proximity granted him a front-row seat to the unfolding drama. While Mumbai burned with discontent, Thane remained relatively calm. His approach had always been one of proactive engagement. He made it a point to regularly meet with disgruntled policemen and union leaders, striving to address grievances before they spiralled into open revolt.

These interactions, though often fraught with tension, provided invaluable insight. It became increasingly clear that the true source of the unrest lay in the clandestine distribution of illegal earnings within the police stations. The complaints were never explicitly stated, but the veiled allusions and subtle nuances spoke volumes. By diligently targeting the sources of these illicit gains - the bootlegging operations, the clandestine gambling dens, and other shadowy activities - he managed to diffuse much of the resentment that had been brewing within the force.

Taking Over in Mumbai:

The call came unexpectedly. Given his perceived success in managing police discontent in Thane, he was tapped to take on the unenviable task of becoming the new Commissioner of Police in Mumbai. He knew the challenge would be immense. The sheer scale of operations in Mumbai, the deep-rooted influence of the police unions, presented a far greater hurdle than anything he had faced before.

Barely had he settled into his new office when the Chief Minister summoned him. He instructed him to accompany the state's Chief Secretary, P.G. Gavai, to Delhi. Their mission: to brief the Union Home Secretary on the alarming activities of the police unions. It soon became apparent that the Government of India was deeply concerned and had sought support from various states to crack down on these unions. Only one Chief Minister, Babasaheb Bhosle of Maharashtra, had agreed to lend his support.

The meetings in Delhi, with Union Home Secretary Chaturvedi and Cabinet Secretary Nirmal Mukherjee, were intense. He emphasized that he was new to the role, that he needed time to properly assess the situation before embarking on any drastic action. Furthermore, he highlighted the ongoing textile strike, a crisis that was already stretching the police force thin. A simultaneous crackdown on the police unions, he argued, would be a logistical nightmare. While the central officials acknowledged the difficulties, they remained steadfast in their desire for immediate action, assuring him of their unwavering support.

Returning to Mumbai, he felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He knew a direct confrontation with the unions would be a risky gamble. He needed a strategy, a way to weaken their hold without triggering an all-out war. He devised a plan: a focused campaign against anti-social elements. His reasoning was simple - by gaining public support and subtly winning over the constabulary, he could significantly erode the unions' power base. He convened a meeting of the Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and laid out his strategy. The response was overwhelmingly supportive, with only a few exceptions – officers who, he suspected, were benefiting from the very corruption he was trying to eradicate. They were the ones "on the take", their loyalties bought and paid for. But for now, he needed their cooperation, or at least their silence. The battle for Mumbai had begun.

Taking on the Underworld:

In Mumbai, a pervasive web of corruption connected the city's criminal underworld to elements within the police department, with illicit activities like bootlegging, smuggling, and gambling flourishing under a cloak of police complicity. This corruption often manifested at the local level, involving officers at individual police stations who facilitated these illegal operations. However, upon his arrival, his reputation as a law enforcement officer with a strict, uncompromising stance against corruption preceded him. Bootleggers and gamblers operating in the neighbouring city of Thane had already disseminated warnings to their Mumbai counterparts, cautioning them about his zero-tolerance policy.

To escalate the fight against organized crime, he recruited Y.C. Pawar, a highly capable and dedicated officer with whom he had previously collaborated within the railway police. He strategically assigned Pawar to Zone III, a critical area encompassing Dharavi, Antop Hill, and Sion, regions then under the firm control of the infamous underworld figure Varadaraja Mudaliar, widely known as Varada. Pawar, recognized for his unwavering commitment to justice and his relentless pursuit of criminals, launched a sustained and aggressive campaign against Varada's criminal empire. His efforts proved highly successful, ultimately leading to the dismantling and collapse of Varada's extensive network of illegal activities.

Neutralizing the Police Unions:

Although his anti-crime measures had successfully undermined the financial foundation of corruption within the police department, the police unions continued to pose a significant obstacle to progress. The union leaders, emboldened by their perceived power, had become increasingly defiant, exhibiting a blatant disregard for regulations and protocol. They routinely refused to wear the prescribed uniforms, neglected their assigned responsibilities, and openly challenged the authority of their superior officers.

Their influence extended to dictating operational procedures within police stations, where they intimidated inspectors and sub-inspectors, creating an atmosphere of fear and coercion. A particularly egregious incident involved the physical assault of an inspector in a suburban police station, a crime that went unreported due to the widespread fear of retaliation from the union. The overall deterioration of discipline within the force was rapid and alarming, severely hampering the police department's ability to effectively serve and protect the public.

Acknowledging the practical impossibility of completely eradicating all forms of illegal income within the police force, his strategy shifted towards forcing these activities into the shadows. This approach proved successful in significantly curbing the circulation of illicit funds within police stations. Some junior officers confided that their illegal earnings had plummeted to approximately 25% of what they had been prior to his appointment. Paradoxically, despite this considerable financial impact, many officers expressed their gratitude for his efforts to restore a sense of professional pride and integrity within the department.

In an effort to foster dialogue and understanding, he held regular meetings with the union leaders. During these meetings, he addressed their legitimate concerns while simultaneously maintaining pressure on their involvement in illegal activities. This approach appeared to lull them into a false sense of security and complacency. Unbeknownst to them, however, the government had already made the decision to take decisive action against the unions, with plans set in motion prior to the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in 1982.

Executing the Crackdown:

To legitimize the deployment of paramilitary forces, they strategically exploited the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival and the ongoing textile strike, presenting it as a necessary measure to ensure public safety and order. This carefully constructed rationale was essential to prevent the labour union leaders from becoming suspicious of their true intentions. Senior inspectors were duly notified that additional personnel were being allocated to bolster security measures during the festival. They readily accepted the reinforcements, completely unaware of the real objective behind their assignment.

In the lead-up to the operation, precisely two days prior, he convened a meeting with his Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and disclosed the intricate details of the plan. The DCPs, in turn, held briefings with their respective inspectors and sub-inspectors, emphasizing the utmost importance of maintaining absolute secrecy. The majority of the officers expressed their approval of the initiative, as they had personally experienced the disruptive and often aggressive methods employed by the labour unions.

Under the cover of darkness on August 17, 1982, the officers fanned out across the city, tasked with apprehending the union leaders and delivering detention orders issued under the authority of the National Security Act (NSA). The operation achieved a significant degree of success, but it was marred by a critical oversight: one of the principal union leaders, Shevale, managed to elude capture, representing a considerable setback to their overall objective.

The Aftermath: A City in Flames:

In the wake of Shevale's disastrous escape attempt, Mumbai was consumed by flames and chaos. His actions ignited a wave of destruction as he led a contingent of armed police constables drawn from the Naigaum and Worli precincts onto the streets. These officers brazenly set fire to vehicles, an act that sparked widespread arson and looting throughout the city. For a full twenty-four hours, Mumbai was paralyzed by the unrest and violence that gripped its streets.

The situation spiralled to the point where paramilitary forces were compelled to use deadly force, opening fire in multiple locations in a desperate attempt to quell the escalating chaos. In the tragic clashes that ensued, two policemen lost their lives, further fuelling the already volatile atmosphere. Textile workers, who were already on strike, initially misconstrued the crackdown, believing it to be a government action directed against their own labour movement.

Unaware of the true motives behind the police action, they joined the riots, adding to the widespread disorder. However, once the textile workers understood that the crackdown was specifically targeting the police unions involved in the unauthorized action, they promptly withdrew from the fray, a decision that contributed significantly to the gradual restoration of calm.

Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the army had been placed on high alert and was subsequently deployed to patrol the city streets. Their presence served as a visible reassurance to the frightened and bewildered public. To address the concerns of the citizenry and combat misinformation, the Commissioner of Police made a televised address to the city. In this address, he clearly articulated the government's position, emphasizing that the operation, while regrettable, was absolutely necessary to restore order and discipline within the ranks of the police force itself.

Conclusion:
Despite the regrettable initial violence, the operation successfully dismantled the entrenched power of the police unions in Mumbai, leading to a restoration of discipline and a gradual rebuilding of public trust. This pivotal moment in the city's policing history transcended the re-establishment of command, reaffirming the police force's core purpose: impartial service and protection for all, free from internal corruption and external pressures. By simultaneously confronting the underworld's influence and internal corruption, leadership guided the force towards greater professionalism and accountability; the hard-won lessons from this tumultuous period remain valuable today, underscoring the importance of courageous, integrous, and resolute leadership in facing difficult challenges.

(This article is based on the book "Bullet for Bullet: My Life as a Police Officer", authored by Julio Ribeiro, former Police Commissioner of Mumbai.)

Written By: Md.Imran Wahab, IPS, IGP, Provisioning, West Bengal
Email: imranwahab216@gmail.com, Ph no: 9836576565