Jewar ‘rape’: Despite SP’s promise, police patrolling missing on roads

HT team tracked the highway going towards Greater Noida and even at the place where the incident took place, but there was no sign of the police

The Noida police has failed miserably in following the instructions of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who had directed it to take all possible measures to maintain law and order in the area after the ‘rape’ and robbery of a family that was travelling from Jewar to Bulandshahr on May 25.

No patrol van at the incident spot near the highway (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

On Monday, HT team tracked the highway going towards Greater Noida and its nearby villages but not a single police patrolling van was spotted. Even at the place where the alleged gang-rape took place, there was no sign of the police.

Senior superintendent of police Love Kumar on June 4 had said that the police were patrolling the area and vigilance has been stepped up after the instructions from the CM.

“Previously, too, there was a patrolling van at this particular crime spot but it used to cover other areas as well. Now there will be a dedicated police vehicle there,” Kumar had said.

Kumar had also claimed, “We have increased the number of police vehicles in various parts of Noida and rural areas of Greater Noida. We are trying to have maximum vigilance in the area. More manpower will be visible on the roads to ensure the safety of citizens.”

When the HT team went to Jewar and Jewar-Bulandshahr Road from Noida to witness the upgraded security arrangements, no patrolling van or police were seen on the roads.

Our team started the journey around 12pm on Monday and returned around 5.30pm. In the evening,too, no police personnel could be spotted.

Superintendent of police (rural) Suniti said, “I will check with the police station concerned to find out the reason behind the absence of police personnel and patrolling vans on the Jewar-Bulandshahr Road and other areas. We have taken important steps to increase police presence in the area. If the personnel were missing from these areas,then we will look into the matter.

Suniti also said the police are going to install streetlights in the area where the alleged ‘gang-rape’ and murder took place early on May 25. “We have asked all police stations to increase the vigilance. The next time, you will get to see enough police personnel on the roads,” she said.