A case involving a YouTuber and a radio jockey mocking the hearing impaired on social media prompted Bengaluru city police commissioner B Dayananda to push his officers to learn sign language.
He has urged them to learn it as an added skill as it would help foster a more inclusive approach with the hearing and speech impaired and bridge the gap between the police department and people with disabilities.
In July this year, the police arrested two men who used social media to upload an offensive video mocking the hearing impaired. This led Dayananda to address the issue more strongly and introduce a more practical mode of inclusiveness by training his personnel.
In the video, the duo mocked the differently abled with obscene gestures. A case was registered against them by the Karnataka State Deaf Welfare Association, leading to their arrest within hours of the complaint being filed.
“Members of the disabled community thanked us for our swift action. They came to our office and expressed their gratitude in their language, which deeply touched us. We also thanked them in our language by arresting the accused. We assured them that they will always be protected and can approach us at any time,” Dayananda told News18.
The arrested duo had created an obscene one-minute reel in which Shaayan Bhattacharya acted as a politician and his partner, Rohan Cariappa, played the part of an interpreter. The video shows Cariappa using sign language and making signs pointing towards his private parts. The reel, which was widely shared across the country, sparked significant criticism from the special needs community. An NGO from Delhi approached the police in the national capital to lodge a complaint. However, since the reel was made in Bengaluru, the NGO approached the city police through Karnataka State Deaf Welfare Association chairperson Shankar KH, who filed a complaint against the duo, explained a cybercrime police officer who registered the case. They were arrested within hours of the complaint.
“Once we show our inclusivity, these individuals will have more assurance and confidence to approach us. The gap or barrier in communication may deter them from seeking help from the police. They may feel that their concerns or complaints will not be understood due to their inability to communicate. We want to blur these lines and make policing accessible for all,” Dayananda told News18.
The police commissioner said that the Bengaluru city police’s commitment to the safety and security of all the people of Bengaluru extends to everyone, including those with special needs. For over a year, they have been working with NGOs to promote societal inclusivity for those who are visually, hearing, and speech impaired.
On World Sign Language Day (September 23), Dayananda held an entire media conference accompanied by a sign language specialist from the NGO Vishesh, which won praise from many on social media as well as from the journalists.
“Keeping them in mind, we have been working towards understanding their needs, concerns, and complaints. We are planning to have a representative from such NGOs who can help interpret, whether through sign language or Braille, in different police stations across the city,” Dayananda told News18.
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