Attacks on police normal while tackling law, order, says DGP

MEERUT: Uttar Pradesh DGP Sulkhan Singh has said in tackling law and order, it is normal for policemen to come under attack.
Sulkhan Singh accompanied by principal home secretary Arvind Kumar was in Meerut to assess security and administrative arrangement to ensure that Kanwar Yatra culminates peacefully. Asked why policemen were increasingly under attack in the state, he said, “In a situation where police is constantly tackling law and order, coming under attack is a normal phenomenon.But it does not mean that we do not take cognizance of such incidents. Police take swift action against those who attack the law enforcement agency. Strict action is taken against them, right from filing of FIRs to pursuing cases in court.”
The DGP’s response is significant as there have been several incidents of policemen being attacked in the past few months either by anti-social elements or the mob. The latest incident is the discovery of the body of sub inspector Sehjor Singh in Bijnor on Friday evening. He was on patrol duty when his throat was slit. The injuries on his body suggested he died fighting. The killer/s also took away his service revolver.
Commenting on the incident, the DGP said, “We have got some important leads in the case and our teams are working on them. We will take strict action against the perpetrator of the crime.”
Meanwhile, ADG (Barielly zone) and UP STF have also reached the spot to investigate the matter. They paid tributes to his mortal remains at the police lines.
Speaking with TOI, superintendent of police, Bijnor, Atul Sharma, said, “We have formed five teams led by two ASPs and COs on Saturday to investigate the murder. We have some clues that will give us a good lead to crack the case. The culprits will be arrested soon.”
According to sources, the deceased SI was posted at Balawali police chowki located on the border of UP and Uttarakhand. The river Ganga flows nearby. The region is a hotbed of illegal sand mining. Besides, the area is used as a conduit for liquor smuggling from across the state’s borders. It is believed that he might have been murdered by the mafia.
Police have been attacked repeatedly over the last few months. On Tuesday, three cops were injured when a mob attacked a police team that tried to arrest cow slaughterers in a Muzaffarnagar village. On the same day, six cops including two women constables, were injured in Bijnor when police went to a village to arrest bike thieves and a mob attacked them. In a Meerut village, a mob attacked a police station soon after Eid namaz were offered on Sunday. There are several incidents of attacks against policemen in the region.
(With inputs from Harveer Dabas)