Under Yogi Raj, UP govt denies permission for Inspector Subodh Singh condolence meet

The in-charge of a police station in Uttar Pradesh called up journalists to come to the Police Station on Wednesday at 10 am as one of their colleagues has been killed by a mob. The journalists were requested to attend the condolence meeting for their martyred colleague.

However, when the press and a few other concerned citizens reached the police station, the police officer informed them that the condolence meeting had been cancelled after the higher authorities denied permission. They were told that a day’s salary of all the members of the department was being deducted, which, according to the officer was, sufficient. The in- charge did not want to discuss more.

In the last couple of years some of the murders of the policemen including CO Zia ul Haq in Pratabgarh in the year 2013, SP Mukul Dwivedi in 2016 and PC Ankit Tomar who was killed in encounter of some gangsters in Shamili in the same year, have been very disturbing. All of them were honoured as martyrs and steps to ensure justice were also initiated. And after the death of Ankit Tomar, many police officials started a campaign for justice and a lot of officers also changed their profile picture to that of Tomar on the social media.

Retired inspector Laakhan stated explicitly that the inspector Subodh was undoubtedly a hero and deserves full state honours. Earlier, martyred inspector Subodh’s son Abhishek had questioned the Bulandhahar police for not draping his father’s body in the tricolor. However later the department rectified their mistake and gave the honour to inspector Subodh.

Nadir Rana, an insider of the police force said, “ Inspector Subodh deserves all the honours but here the atmosphere is no longer like before where martyred police men were honoured and given due respect without any doubt or delay. Could the reason be that the killers of inspector Subodh were Hindu mobs who enjoy support from the current government in UP?”

This could also mean that it is going to have an impact on the process of judiciary and delivery of justice.

Based on the recent events, the question on the minds of local residents is if after the death of inspector Subodh in Sayana village, whether there has been an attempt to burn alive CO SP Sharma because the walls of the police station were pulled down to rescue him. There are also talks circulating that he was subjected to slapping from the mobs. The police officials have explained to their authorities and also to the media that had they not escaped from there they would have been killed by the frenzied mob.

After this incident in Gokashi the first person to reach the place was the tahsildar of Sayana village and he had clearly stated that parts of cattle were hung from the trees and in sugarcane fields. But however, now the Tahsildar refuses to say anything about this.

After this incident on Tuesday the in charge filed a report naming 27 attackers in which the district conveynor of Bajrang Dal Yogesh Raj Praveen was the main accused along with BJP youth wing leader Shikhar Agarwal and other members of VHP.

According to SSP of Bulandhahar, KB Singh, 6 teams were formed to arrest these people amidst pressure. There was news about the arrest of Yogesh Raj but later this news was denied and it was reported that he is absconding.  Even ADGP Anand Kumar has said to have spoken of the accused in terms of awe and in reverence.

The local people believe that Hindu groups are behind the attacks on the police and as the local parliamentarian Bhola Singh is in total support of the accused which is why it is very difficult to bring the murdered of Inspectors to book.

SB Sisdikar, who heads the SIT formed to probe the death of Inspector Subodh, has stated that they will submit their findings in 48 hours.

It is alleged that some pictures of the attacks and vandalism during police interrogation were published in the local newspapers but on closer inspection the pictures are fake.

The BJP parliamentarian Bhola Singh has shown his solidarity with the guilty and accused and there are rumours that the SSP may be transferred from Bulandshahr.

It is too early to say anything as of now but it is evident that the police have now started dragging their feet in the case.