20 Jan 2019

Cop transferred after video shows woman begging at his feet

India

Written by

Shalini Ojha

In Lucknow, a police inspector displayed complete lack of empathy when an elderly woman, who lost her son, begged him to file an FIR.

The insensitivity of the officer, who was the SHO of Gudamba police station, was caught on camera.

After the video went viral, inspector Tej Prakash Singh was transferred to police lines.

Unsurprisingly, the UP police received brickbats on social media.

What happened

Woman's son was crushed by faulty machine in illegal factory

The woman, identified as Brahma Devi, wanted police to take action after her son Akash Yadav died on Friday.

He worked at a factory called Meenakshi Panel Plywood. The factory doesn't have a proper license.

Further, weeks ago, workers complained to the owner about a faulty machine but it wasn't fixed.

Akash was crushed to death by the same machine.

Requests

Woman kept crying, inspector sat on his chair

The factory employees rushed to Akash's help but couldn't save him. Subsequently, his family approached the police.

At the station, Brahma wailed in front of Singh. She begged him to take action against the factory owner, who is said to be absconding.

But the folded hands and cries didn't move Singh. He remained seated on his chair, resting one foot on another.

Twitter Post

This video shows everything that is wrong with UP police

This video is testimony of the ordeal a common man has to undergo to register an FIR at police station. The elderly woman is literally begging inspector at Lucknow's Gudamba PS and later falls on insp's feet to register an FIR in the death of her son. pic.twitter.com/PBL8Y8XJiq
— Piyush Rai | ‏‎پیوش رائے (@Benarasiyaa) January 19, 2019

Action taken

The insensitive behavior got Singh transferred

SSP Lucknow Kalanidhi Naithani took cognizance of the video and action was taken against Singh.

Naithani revealed Singh had filed an FIR of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the factory's owner.

But the way he behaved with the elderly is unacceptable. His arrogant behavior got Singh transferred, the senior officer said.

"IPS officer Abhishek Verma will conduct a probe," the SSP added.

Irony

Last year, Gudamba police station was awarded

Quite ironically, in January 2018, Gudamba police station was named one of the best police stations by Intelligence Bureau.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh wanted to award police stations which did exemplary work. The IB had analyzed 15,600 stations across India and Gudamba station found a place in top three.

But Singh's behavior shows a lot has changed in one year.