'Bound to breed contempt for law': SC judge slams police assault on NEET protesters

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan slammed police officers over the alleged assault on protesting students during the NEET agitation at Jantar Mantar and said that the detachment expected of officials appears to be disappearing.While speaking at the launch of former secretary (security) Yashovardhan Azad's book "Policing the Republic", Justice Bhuyan said that police must maintain their credibility because people seek their help when they feel wronged."All of us are dismayed when we see young officers of the Indian Police Service personally going and assaulting protesters and demonstrators. This is something very, very distressing to observe. The detachment expected of police officers somehow seems to be disappearing, and this is indeed a matter of grave concern," Justice Bhuyan said."For most common people, a policeman on the street wearing a whistle and a lathi represents the power and authority of the state.