Resentment is brewing in the police force in Uttar Pradesh over the manner in which the state government allowed FIRs against 42 police officials for the “death” of terror suspect Khalid Mujahid.
Top police officials feel that such action would have a demoralising impact on the moral of the force and would also make them more aware of the caste aspect of an accused — instead of his criminality — and this, in the long run, will have dangerous consequences.
“This is, undoubtedly, votebank politics and police officials will now think twice before taking action against an accused, particularly if he belongs to a particular community,” said former DGP K.L. Gupta.
Another former DGP Prakash Singh, who is now a social activist, termed the government’s decision to book 42 cops for arresting a terror suspect as the “height of Muslim appeasement”.
“This will not only make the cops wary of investigating cases related to terrorism but could even pave the way for a revolt in the police force. If action is taken against cops in this manner, which policeman will treat a criminal as he should be treated? A cop will now first see the caste and community of a criminal before proceeding against him,” he said.
A top ranking police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that by allowing cases to be registered against 42 cops in the Khalid Mujahid case, the government had set a very dangerous precedence. “After this, why should our boys put their lives at risk to nab terrorists if the government has to release them because they belong to a particular community? Khalid Mujahid died a natural death but his family members want to derive political mileage out of the incident and the government is allowing them to do that,” he said.
Another senior police official said that decisions like these are responsible for the prevailing law and order situation. “We cannot take action against SP workers, Yadavs and now terrorists, if they happen to be Muslims. The police force gets blamed if anything goes wrong but does anyone ever question the government about actions which adversely impact policing?” he asked.
A SP minister, on the other hand, happily explained that the decision to register cases against 42 cops was a “politically correct decision that would benefit the party in the long run”.