Calcutta, Dec. 21 :    Calcutta, Dec. 21:  'Don't be slaves in the houses of your senior officers. Dedicate yourselves to the cause of the common people.' That was Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's message to 'low-ranking' members of the force on Thursday, during his first visit to Lalbazar as chief minister. Bhattacharjee was addressing the open session of 13th annual conference of the CPM-controlled Calcutta Police Association, after being given a guard of honour at the headquarters. 'I know many lower-ranking policemen have to function as domestic servants in the homes of senior officers. But I have also been told that a section of lower-ranking policemen actually volunteer their services - the reason for which is unknown to me,' observed Bhattacharjee. Even as some senior members of the force shifted uncomfortably in their seats, the chief minister carried on with his message to the men in uniform. 'Be friendly with the people and improve the image of the force... I know a poor man with dirty clothes and a rich man getting down from a car are treated differently at any police station. But why should the police refuse to listen to the poor man and pay extra attention to the rich man?' he demanded. But Bhattacharjee packed the most powerful punch when it came to the crime-cop nexus. 'I don't want to hear from any quarter that a single policeman has links with the underworld. If you have to be rude towards anybody, be rude to anti-socials and criminals and deal firmly with them. The ruder you are to anti-socials and criminals, the happier I will be,' he thundered. 'I know the majority of the force is honest and clean and only a handful of police officials is involved in corrupt practices. But the people will blame the entire force for the misdeeds of a few. You have to remain alert and try to earn the confidence of the common people.' In what resembled a moral science sermon, the chief minister said: 'We know there is corruption in every corner of society. But the people talk about a police constable being caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 2 from a truck-driver, and not about corrupt practices in five-star hotels. People cannot accept a corrupt police officer or constable... You must learn to read the mind of the ordinary citizen, who wants a clean police force.' Bhattacharjee hinted at replacing police ration with allowances, while pledging that the government would 'bear all cost of medical treatment' for personnel suffering any injury on duty.