Female cop slaps women protesting against arrest of children in Aligarh

The Uttar Pradesh Police yet again exhibited its insensitivity when a lady sub inspector allegedly slapped women protesting against the arrest of children at the Kwarsi police station of Aligarh.

The deputy inspector general (DIG) of Aligarh Range ordered an inquiry on Thursday to verify allegations of slapping the complaining women and force used to disperse them. The SP Aligarh is to conduct the inquiry.

Two children were caught stealing in the house of a school owner in Shatabidi Nagar earlier this week. Out of four alleged to be involved, two were nabbed.

A large number of women of Nagla Tikauna gathered at the police station on Wednesday and demanded their release. First the police tried to convince them that the case was of theft and that investigations were on.

With the women getting more agitated, station officer Satendra Singh allegedly got irked and ordered women sub inspector Sandhya Singh to push them out. Singh in turn used physical force to push the women out of the station and in the process slapped three of them. The police later resorted to lathicharge to clear out the slogan shouting crowd.

Inspector Satendra Singh has denied the allegations and claimed not to have used force on women. According to him, the protesting women were pushed out of police station, but no force was used.

Kusum of Nagla Tikauna, told Hindustan Times, "The police has taken away my sons Kapil and Rajkumar without any reason." She further added that, "Yashpal, son of Rajkumari; Bunty, son of Rekha and the children of Sudha and Birma Devi are also in police custody." She categorically said that the police lathicharged brutally on women.

Prakash D, DIG (Aligarh range) told Hindustan Times, "These children used to commit theft in marriage ceremonies. The women with their family members were pressurising the police to let off the children. They were just pushed outside but to clear the matter inquiry has been ordered."

Meanwhile, SSP of Aligarh, Amit Pathak has ordered an inquiry into the matter. "The goods stolen along with cash have been recovered from these children. In any case, the SP Aligarh will conduct an inquiry and submit a report soon and on the basis of the video footage made available," he said.

First Published: May 31, 2013 11:02 IST