Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Oct 8: The inhuman face of UP Police once again came to the fore when a person was reportedly threatened with dire consequences by Firozabad police. His crime being that he raised the atrocities by police before the human rights commission.

Firozabad, the bangle city of the country is situated around 300 km from state capital Lucknow. It is represented by actor turned politician Congress MP Raj Babbar.

The case in point is related to Firozabad police which is threatening and warning a person with serious consequences if he does not take back his complaints made against Manzil Saini, the Superintendent of Police of Firozabad and some other police officers. Abhinav Chaturvedi, a political person was participating in a protest rally on May 12 this year in Firozabad. There, the police used force to disperse the
crowd but they became particularly inhuman and barbaric in their treatment with Abhinav Chaturvedi. Chaturvedi's head was fractured and he received multiple injuries on his entire body. This was done in the presence and active participation of Manzil Saini, the Superintendent of Police of Firozabad. Later he was hospitalized in the District hospital, Firozabad and then in the emergency ward of S N Medical
College, Agra on the same date.

He made a complaint at the Uttar Pradesh State Human Rights Commission against Manzil Saini, S K Malik, CO Tundla, RP Singh, inspector, South, Firozabad and others. In the complaint he produced a large number of documentary evidences including medical reports, photographs, video graph etc. Last week, the State Human Rights Commission called all these officers for their statement. The
Commission is expected to go to Firozabad this week for further enquiry on the spot.

After their statement before the Commission in Lucknow, the Firozabad police is said to be threatening Abhinav Chaturvedi and some of his witnesses with dire consequences if they do not change their version before the State Commission. R P Singh, inspector of Firozabad South came to Chaturvedi's house and for two hours between 7 to 9 pm on Thursday October 6 allegedly threatened and asked him to change his version and take back his complaint. He is said to have told Chaturvedi that if he did not take back his story, he might be implicated in false cases. Similarly, S K Malik and CO Tundla reportedly did the same on phone between 3 to 4 pm on Friday October 7. R P Singh also threatened two witnesses Sanjay Shrotiya and Sandeep Tiwari on Thursday asking them not to give evidence, it is gathered.

Secretary, Institute of Research and Documentation and Social Sciences and social activisit Dr Nutan Thakur has taken up the matter very seriously and sent letters to the NHRC and the State Human Rights Commission to look into and enquire into these actions by the members of the Firozabad police.