Casteism in Bihar police barracks
Widespread casteism in Bihar has Police barracks as its stronghold where constables are divided as Yadavs, Bhumihars, Brahmins, Paswans, Rajputs, Muslims, SCs, OBCs and STs. In 2006, Nitish Kumar had ordered the then home secretary Hem Chandra Sirohi to “dismantle caste barracks and kitchens in police lines”, but nothing happened after a preliminary inquiry.
The only common kitchen in the 14 barracks, called a “government kitchen” where members of all castes can eat only has 60 members. The only exceptions in the premises are the 20 toilets and 18 taps the 3,000 constables can’t help but share.
Most policemen take pride thier caste-consciousness. However, Rajput head constable wishes the government allotted barracks according to seniority. One of them concedes there is “some rigidity about the caste system among senior policemen” and adds, “Policemen of the younger generation do not show such narrow-mindedness.”
Another constable points towards a graver state of affair. “Has anyone thought that there is a three-acre space for one police officer and another three acres housing 3,000 of us,” he complains, referring to the huge bungalows in which most senior IPS officers live.