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Cops failed to handle Neeraj case properly

None | ByBK Singh, Allahabad
Nov 24, 2006 12:02 AM IST

DO YOU know why kidnapped contractor Neeraj Agrawal could not return safely and was ultimately murdered? None other than a section of cops point out glaring mistakes on the part of their colleagues, who were handling the most sensational crime of the year.

DO YOU know why kidnapped contractor Neeraj Agrawal could not return safely and was ultimately murdered?

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None other than a section of cops point out glaring mistakes on the part of their colleagues, who were handling the most sensational crime of the year.

When family members of the victim and several organisations mounted pressure on the then SSP, he surprisingly told them that he knew who the kidnappers were and that he wanted to tread cautiously as Neeraj's life could be jeopardised in case the kidnappers came to know that cops were coming.

Sources say, no seasoned cop should ever try to experiment a new style of dealing with the miscreants in such a case of kidnapping.

Immediate action in commando style could have saved the life of this young man. It's true, risk is always there, but taking such a big risk in the name of experiment was not needed, they pointed out.

Another childish act was to post uniformed cops at the residence of the victim in such a sensitive matter. In nearly all such cases the gang involved in the crime keeps an eye on the movement of family members and the house through local contacts because they are wary of police action. Cops in such cases are posted at the residence of the victim but in plain clothes in a bid to conceal their identity.

SP Trans-Yamuna Deepak Bhatt, who had a crucial role to play in this case and was heading one of the two teams to work out this case, was not taken into confidence. Surprisingly, he was not kept posted with the developments despite his seniority. Even SP city RPS Yadav was relegated to the background even though the victim was a resident of the city.

The cops remained divided in two camps despite the fact that they were dealing with a sensitive case.

Worse, all those who played politics or committed dereliction of duty got away easily with no action against them. "A young life is lost and his family will suffer for long but who cares," said a cop who wished anonymity.

The scene in Chitrakoot district where Neeraj was taken after kidnapping was no different. Cops in this district were also a divided lot in this case. An inspector carried out so many unnecessary raids out of over-enthusiasm that it gave wrong signals, said a cop.

Cops summoned the STF at the eleventh hour after they sensed that they were being severely criticised by the public and the media. But sadly, it was too late.

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