In yet another case which brings embarrassment to the Uttar Pradesh police, Bulandshahr police have lodged a case against 13 cops, including five sub-inspectors, for plundering the house of a local resident, Mohd Mustaqeem. All the cops were posted at Khurja police station.
According to The Times Of India, Mustaqeem, a washerman had been washing clothes for the policemen for some time and had been pleading them to clear his dues.
What had happened?
Reportedly, around 15 cops in plain clothes showed up at noon outside the victim’s house in Khaweshgyan locality and went ahead to raid the house in search of illegal drugs. After the raid, the policemen took Rs 84000 cash and two bikes that belonged to the victim. A nearby CCTV recorded the whole fiasco. The video shows their arrival and departure and even caught policemen carrying valuables and cash, bundled in a handkerchief. The accused policemen also arrested him for dealing in narcotics and illegal possession of arms after looting his house.
Meena Begum, mother of the victim said that the police beat Mustaqeem and abused everyone else while they raided the house, taking away all the valuable items with them at the end. The victim heads a committee which maintains the cemetery and the cash was donations from local residents which were provided for the upkeep of the place.
On the same day, the Khurja police also arrested one Shahwaz who lives in Peerzadmaan. However, the daily reported that the police claimed to have picked up both Shahwaz and Mustaqueem around midnight from GT road crossing while they were in possession of 700g of narcotics, Rs 10000 in cash and a pistol.
FIR lodged against the policemen
The victim’s family went to multiple police stations during the first week after the incident, which did not reap any results. Finally, they reached the additional chief judicial magistrate’s court on September 19 and a day later the court asked for an FIR to be lodged against the cops in question under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (452,392,395,342,193), to which no action was taken for 10 days. Finally, when the FIR was filed on October 3, it was only done under section 395 of IPC, for dacoity, said the victim’s lawyer, Mohd Naeem.
The Logical Indian Take
UP police have been on the radar for the last couple of months, the killing of Apple executive in Lucknow being the recent highlight. Indian police personnel have a duty that they need to fulfil and at the same time, try and restore a layman’s faith in the policing system.
Even as actions have been taken against the accused now, it took a month’s time to begin the process. Authorities should look into the matter and take strict actions against those who are found to be guilty.
