Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Chahan Singh Balyan (56),the constable whom BSP legislator Haji Yakub Qureshi reportedly slapped in public in Meerut on Thursday for seeking to divert his cavalcade from the route of a procession,has little hope of justice.
The incident took place in presence of the Circle Officer,but he did nothing and simply left the place, said Balyan. I informed the control room,they gave me no protection and told me to brief the SP (City). I gave a complaint to the SP (City),but nothing has been done,nor has there been any assurance from anyone.
Four days after the incident,police officers have excuses for inaction. CO Satpal Singh says he knows nothing about the incident. DIG Jai Narayan Singh says an inquiry is being conducted by SP (City) Prabal Pratap Singh. The SP (City),to whom Balyan had submitted the complaint the same evening,says his work is not yet complete.
Balyan says whosoever is conducting the inquiry has not spoken to him so far. The only policeman to have visited him is Inspector R L Niranjan.
He met me twice and on both occasions asked me to withdraw the complaint against the MLA and make a compromise,but I did not agree, said Balyan.
The constable says he can never forget the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of the MLA and his men. He returned home on Sunday after spending three days in a city hospital for treatment of an angina attack which he suffered on Friday afternoon.
Recalling the incident,Balyan said he,along with some other constables,was deployed at the Hapur Adda crossing in view of the Ravidas Jayanti procession. Around 7 pm,the MLA came in a convoy.
On being told that no vehicle was allowed to go on Brahampuri road in view of the procession,the MLA got off the car,caught me by the collar and slapped me. His men came from other vehicles and started thrashing me. The CO,who was present,quietly left the place.
