Despite the fact that a minor girl and her mother were gang-raped in front of their family by a gang of dacoits, despite the fact that there is uproar over the gang-rape across the country, despite the fact that the UP Chief Minister has ordered the DGP and Principal Secretary to take stock of the situation, despite the state government suspending the SSP, Additional SP, CO and SHOs posting a new team in the region the archaic and insensitive approach of the UP Police are still remains a big concern.
This reporter took a tour of almost 200 km of the area including the infamous NH 91 where the incident took place and presence of police party especially patrolling team was not seen as claimed after the incident. Forget about the rural areas of Bulandshahr, neighbouring parts of Delhi such as Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida were also seen badly policed.
Sordid state of affairs of the UP Police continues in the region as no change in behaviour of the cops and day-to-day policing are visible on ground. The locals, who have been victimised due to poor policing, claim no change in situation even after series of incidents have taken place in the recent past. They reveal that after the incident, a few pickets have been added and patrolling has been enhanced along with patrolling on the NH 91 but the condition of the other places is still the same. Passers-by, too, have a similar observation as they hardly feel any improvement after the tragic gang-rape incident which took place earlier last week.
A midnight visit in and around the district ascertained people’s allegations and the insensitive approach of police deployed in the area. While traveling from Delhi to Ghaziabad through NH 24, presence of Ghaziabad Police was visible only at Vijaynagar, about 20 km away from the Delhi-Ghaziabad border. Forget about security concern of office-goers especially women, there was no presence of cops on the jam packed NH 24. Between Lalkuan and Bulandshahr border, a team of policemen was seen only at Porder Point under the jurisdiction of Dadri Police. On inquiring it was revealed that the team reached there after a call of local leader of the ruling party. A police picket of the Bulandshahr Police was also within a kilometre’s distance from the border.
Though police were seen at another point but a PCR call by this reporter revealed the insensitivity and callous approach of the cops. Having warned by locals not to visit the interiors of the district, the reporter made a PCR call following which a police vehicle reached to attend. Within a few minutes, the Circle Officer (CO) of the concerned area too reached the spot. The official did not dither to show his hostile approach by inquiring about the Millennium Post team. He sought all details of the reporter, organisation and also asked about the department of the Delhi government that issued the accreditation card to this reporter. He took photographs of the identity proofs and rebuked for not having a media sticker on the vehicle. He also objected to the media’s reporting in the issue before asking to follow his vehicle to see the situation. While following his vehicle, there was a PCR vehicle found standing at the spot where the incident was reported from earlier.
While traveling in the other parts of the district, hardly any policemen were found either at police posts, pickets or in patrolling. The most abandoned were Kotwali Dehat, Kakod and Khurja where hardly any sign of police presence was reflected. On the way to Bulandshar-Greater Noida, no police team was seen for almost 60 kilometre. In Greater Noida, a patroling vehicle was seen at the entry point of the Yamuna Expressway and two stationary PCR vans at the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. Apart from this, only 2-3 PCR vehicles were seen up to the Delhi border.