Page 41 - 31OCT2018E

ENCOUNTER
Vivek Tiwari murder case sends

shockwaves to Lucknowites

In a twist, arrest of two UP constables in the killing of Vivek Tiwari, an Apple executive, led to
vehement outrage among men in uniform who lambasted senior officials for not protecting
their own men, writes KULSUM MUSTAFA

t is indeed a bizarre case which has their behavior. different police stations in the city-Naka,
sent shock waves among not just A red-faced police chief OP Singh Gudamba and Aliganj were suspended,
Lucknowites but the whole coun- had a hard time explaining to the media three station house in-charges were
try. In fact, there are two separate about not just the total lawlessness in removed and several sent to line. These
I sequels in this incident. First is the Lucknow wherein a man driving down policemen were not only leading ‘black
constable shooting down a multina - just a few km from the police headquar- Day protests against the arrest of the
tional executive for no apparent reason ters with a female colleague was shot cops, whom they said were put behind
and second is the tremendous upsurge dead by a constable, but also had no an- bars without any inquiry, but were also
by men in uniform against the arrest of swer why there was this outbursts by his uploading pictures on social media of
two cops. men in uniform. the protest.
On September 28, the city woke up to Singh asserted that severe action has Constable Prashant had alleged that • Policing pits Vivek Tiwari is yet another
the shocking news of the random shoot- being taken. While three cops from three he had to fire in “self-defence” as Tiwari innocent victim of encounters going on in UP
ing down of 38-year-old Vivek Tiwari, refused to slow down when signaled
Apple executive, in the wee hours in the and was trying to escape. Prima facie
state’s capital Lucknow. Driving his SUV, Prashant’s statements have so far not and that the life of the common man is said that it is evident that the morale of The police officers obviously caught
Tiwari was returning home from a late Transport for shown any signs of truth. in grave danger when cops shoot down the police force morale is so low that off guard initially tried to defend itself
night official party with a female col- The open protest and solidarity by a innocent men in the state capital. they had to come down to this state and by saying that the pictures of uniformed
league when he was allegedly asked to female staff big segment of the state police force have “Totally appalling and disgusting. breached all barriers of discipline and protestors were morphed. But soon un-
stop, failing which he was shot down by shown that the policemen had no respect There is a complete breakdown of the official guidelines. While appealing for a der media pressure the police had to re-
police constable Prashant Chaudhury for late night for the Service laws by which they were state machinery in the state,” is how Syed fair and fast trial in the case Haider sug- tract and DIG (law & Order) Praveen Ku-
who was on patrol duty with constable bound. They openly charged the senior Zeeshan Haider, Congress spokesperson gested that the government must look mar Tripathi said that no in disciple will
Sandeep Kumar. parties officials of playing to the gallery and not in the state reacted to the incident. into the reasons behind the police revolt be tolerated and the guilty policemen
The news created an uproar in the city protecting their own men. The anger and Lambasting the BJP government as this is a grave issue and involves the will be dealt as per the laws and rules of
known for its ‘pehle aap’(first you) cul- An important aspect that has resentment against the cops’ arrest was for total failure on all front, Haider ex- security of its citizen. the Police department.
ture. Prashant and Sandeep were arrest- to be looked into is the protec- visible right from the time of the arrest. pressed full sympathy with Tiwari’s fam- The Police non Gazatted employees
ed and sent to jail. The accused cop just tion and safeguard by organi- The UP police association supported the ily which includes his small daughters. welfare association state general secy
before his arrest gave interviews to the zations and business house to accused and unitarily declared October Ridiculing the contention of the consta- Avinash Pathak posted in 37 PAC, Kanpur
media, while his wife Rakhi Malik, also a the female staff for such official 5 as ‘Black Day’ to register their protest. ble that Tiwari was trying to escape and Netting novel who had supported the errant cops was
UP constable, stood beside him and gave late night parties. It is said that This revealed the chinks in the armor of run over his motor bike, Haider said that arrested. Some policemen are demand-
anti-police statements stating that justice Tiwari was going to drop home the UP police and the opposition allega- the most easy and sane option should protest style ing that the police regulation Act must
was not done to her husband by the sen- his colleague Sana Khan home tion that all is not well with the manage- have been in the case Tiwari was trying be changed and that the senior officers
iors and he was not allowed to file an FIR. after the party. Will Apple Au- ment of the state police. to escape would have been to aim at his must look into the grievances of the jun-
Next followed an immediate upsurge of thorities clarify as to why there While the DGP has ordered probe car tyres and not his head. Some very interesting ior who are always under pressure and
near revolt in the constabulary after the was no official vehicle available into the entire incident, the widow of Expressing concern at the police re- pictures are doing the rounds pushed against the wall as they are al-
arrest of the two constables. for Ms Khan . Apple, a multina- the victim, Kalpana Tiwari, who has been volt Haider said this is unthinkable in on the social media platform. ways at the receiving end.
The protest by policemen was partly tional tec giant has been very offered 40 lakhs, a government accom- free India. “This is the first ever revolt by Dressed in the khakhi po- After this incident, the state police
vocal and mainly through social media. quite on the issue. modation and a job as PRO in Nagar the police force in the state in independ- lice uniform with their faces is taking measures to set its own house
The men in khaki donned black bands Women organizations must Nigam by the chief minister as compen- ent India. It shows the total failure of the covered with helmets, masks in order. While warnings have been is-
as mark of protest and gave statements look into this accept seriously. sation has demanded adequate punish- state machinery as the protestors did not and emojis and black bands on sued and a strict vigil is being enforced
against the senior officers before the Companies which expect their ment for the policeman who killed her even heed the appeal of either the state their arms -the UP police cops on postings on social media by the cops,
press and flaunted pictures of protest on female employees to attend husband for no reason and suspension head, chief minister nor the police head have found a novel to protest special refresher courses for better polic-
the WhatsApp and Facebook and all this such parties must also ensure of those policemen who are supporting the DGP,” he said adding, “Police ka iqbaal in support of their colleague ing and based on behavior change have
without fear of punishment and in total their safety and security and the killers of her husband. seems to have touched its nadir in the Prashant Chaudhury. This way been initiated in the state capital which
violation of the Police Service Regulation that they are dropped home There has been a strong and united state.” they will escape identification will be later done in other state cities too.
Act. The appeal of the Chief Minister and safely by office transport. protest by the Opposition who allege that He said that what happened is not and punishment.
Police chief seemed to have no effect on there is no law and order left in the city a very healthy sign in a democracy. He LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

TEHELKA / 31 OCTOBER 2018 40 WWW.TEHELKA.COM TEHELKA / 31 OCTOBER 2018 41 WWW.TEHELKA.COM

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