Even if all media attention continuously converges on Covid-19, the vaccine and  standoff with China, last Friday’s bloodbath which occurred at a village only 150 km away from the Uttar Pradesh capital is managing to draw a considerable amount of focus and create waves in the political and bureaucratic quarters of the country. Eight policemen with the mission to arrest a known gangster wanted for murder were brutally murdered one by one. If this is a matter of much angst, the various reports that are now coming in which strongly suggest a ‘sabotage’ by certain section(s) of the police establishment itself is much more disconcerting. It’s a matter of great misfortune that a gory incident like this was needed to bring into fore the phenomena of dilution of intelligence set-up of the principal law-enforcing agency in the largest state in the country and the nexus between the political class and professional criminals there. While it will be wrong to generalise the incident and conclude it as a ‘general feature’ in the country, it is an undeniable fact that proximity of the wrongdoers with certain sections of the politicians and lawkeepers has had a steady presence in Indian democracy, causing it to lose its sanctity, silently but surely.

The details of the incident that are now transpiring after investigation, obviously expedited after the nationwide furore clearly points out that the ambush which led to the carnage was pre-planned by the gangster and his accomplices, which in all probability would not have been possible without a tip-off from a certain section of the police. While many more ‘insights’ are being awaited with the furtherance of investigation, from so far that have been gathered, presence of ‘mole’ and infiltration in police by the said gangster is almost certain. It will also be matter to ponder why the team was so less prepared, both numerically and combat-wise. It has been learnt that while the gang used sophisticated weapons, the policemen, including the DSP killed, carried out-dated arms. This once more highlights the need for modernisation of the police force, a pan-national requirement perhaps, without which it will be wrong to expect that crime can be checked and criminals be put behind bars. As per records, the said gangster has a long history of crime and this ‘closeness’ with the politicians in UP was also not unknown and it is alleged that his ‘importance’ climbs particularly during elections. If this ‘patronage’ is true then it must be said that he has now turned out to be a ‘Frankenstein’, much to the dismay of his Godfathers.

It will not be a matter of much labour to discover such elements in the vast political canvas of the country. All political parties, irrespective of ideologies should consciously avoid such mingling and the goal of keeping the police establishment free from political influence should be revisited. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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