The Tale of Two Police Officers
On May 22, 2018 when 28-year old Gagandeep Singh heard of a mob trying to paint a consensual meet-up of a couple as “love-jihad”, little did he knew that his act will turn him into a hero overnight, at least to some. In a country where police officers are busy bending their knees to the boss and taking their orders head-on (with a minor exception of Delhi where they are able to grow balls), Singh was a stand-out.
On that fateful day, a 23-year-old Muslim was spotted with a 19-year-old Hindu girl in the temple premises of Garjiya Devi temple near Uttarakhand’s Ramnagar. As is the case with all militant hindutva groups, this too was construed as a “Love-Jihad” and the frenzied mob of UP went on its way to deliver the ‘justice’.
And why shouldn’t they? Time and again, they have received ample supports from the members of ruling dispensation. In fact, UP’s CM Ajay Singh Bisht even went to the extent of forming a militant and unconstitutional “Love Jihad Squad”- a group of thugs who have been tasked to cleanse the Indian “culture”. Some have even received financial support for their lynching activities.
When Singh was alerted to the incident, he rushed to the spot wherein he found a mob, alleging ‘love jihad’, preparing to thrash the couple. In a true “56-inch chest” way, Singh turned himself into a human shield, saving the young man. In the process, he also received several blows but made sure that humanity triumphed.
Upon failing to carry out their sacred duty of lynching, the militant mob began raising anti-police slogans and started heckling him. But he didn’t give up. I wonder how good it would have been, had the mob shown same urgency to punishing the anti-social elements (like themselves)?
Singh was not related to the man he saved. He would had - like most police officers in a similar situation — have taken the easier option of waiting for more policemen to show up or would have just watched them from the edges (as did our other hero in Hapur). But he choose his duty above himself. He choose humanity and rule of law. But what followed him was not a hero’s reception. He was made the target of Hindutva’s online troll mob and some BJP members. Worse, he was made to go underground as well.
Singh was not related to the man he saved. He could — like most police officers probably would in a similar situation — have taken the easier option of waiting for more policemen to show up or would have just watched them from the edges (as did our other hero in Hapur). But he choose his duty above himself. He choose humanity and rule of law. But what followed him was not a hero’s reception. He was made the target of Hindutva’s online troll mob and some BJP members. Worse, he was made to go underground as well.
In another place…
Now compare this to the image of the police officer above. A man is being dragged by mob and all that he does is pave the way. Even if it is believed that the people in the picture are carrying him to the hospital, is this the way to do it? Where’s your humanity? Where’s the law?
According to media reports, Qasim and Samiuddin, two men from Madapur village, were reportedly dragged for a distance of about 500 m and thrashed after rumours of cattle slaughter spread in the Hindu dominated Bhajera Khurd village. The gruesome incident led to the demise of Qasim while Samiuddin is still fighting for his life in Dev Nandini hospital in Hapur.
In the video below, Qasim can be seen lying on the ground with bruises and torn clothes, pleading for water and a voice can be heard in the video, “If we’d reached here some time later, they would have killed the cows.” Since when did the life of man became less important than a cow, though there are enough evidences that they weren’t involved in any cow-related business.
But even if they were, who are you to deliver justice? And who decides what’s right or wrong?
But the (in)difference between the two incidents didn’t end there. Hours after the image of Qasim being dragged went viral, UP Police put out an apology insisting that the act was “undesirable”
However despite all the mounting evidences of cow-related lynching and videos, the UP police insist that its a case of “road rage”. Yes, you read that right. ROAD RAGE. The height of insensitivity! But what else do you hope from a state whose CM is Ajay Singh Bisht.
In a way, Uttrakhand’s Gagandeep Singh and UP’s Ashwani Kumar, represent the true picture of India. While one is more than willing to put himself in danger to protect a man, other is more than happy to have a broken man being dragged to his Jeep
As for you….
Remember this photo & remember this man. You will have to pay for your hatred one day — either in this world or world beyond. Remember the day when you stood silent and endorsed the hate. It will come to bite you someday. It always does.
Thought for the day: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” ~ Desmond Tutu
Suggested reading: https://thewire.in/society/junaids-lynching-and-the-making-of-a-new-india-beyond-recognition
https://thewire.in/communalism/hapur-lynchings-narratives-of-victims-families-suggest-pre-planning
