UP Cop Killed in Ghazipur Mob Violence, 27 People Arrested

Head Constable Suresh Vats (48) was hit on the head by a stone when he went to control a protesting mob.

A protesting mob resorted to violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur area.

(Photo: PTI)

Video Producer: Shohini Bose
Video Editor: Varun Sharma

At least 27 people were arrested on Sunday, 30 December, in connection with the killing of a head constable in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, reported ANI.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Police head constable Suresh Vats was killed in Ghazipur on Saturday, 29 December, when protesters hurled stones at vehicles returning from the venue of a meeting addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Head Constable Suresh Vats (48), from Karimuddinpur police station, was hit on the head by a stone when he went to end a traffic jam caused by the protests.

Police has also registered an FIR against 32 people following the incident, ANI reported.

“Till now, 32 people have been named in the FIR... 70-80 unnamed people are also mentioned in the FIR,” MP Pathak, CO City, Ghazipur said.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (Ghazipur) Yashveer Singh said the protesters were workers from the Rashtriya Nishad Party, who were prevented by police from going to the venue.

“When the prime minister had left Ghazipur, party workers blocked traffic at various places and started pelting stones at the vehicles returning from the programme venue," he told PTI.

"He was immediately taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries,” the SP said.

Vats was from Raniganj in Pratapgarh district.

His son, while speaking to ANI, said, “The police is not able to protect their own... what can we expect from them? What will we do with compensation now? Earlier, similar incidents took place in Bulandshahr and Pratapgarh as well.”

HOW FAR ALONG IS THE INVESTIGATION?

At least 27 people were arrested on 30 December, Varanasi police said. They added that 32 people had been named in the FIR, and at least 70-80 unidentified people were also included in the FIR.

“Around 15 party workers were detained and the rest of the protesters are being identified with the help of videography," he added.

Dr Naveen Singh, Sadar Hospital, Ghazipur, said that the post mortem of the constable “is being conducted”. He also confirmed that seven police personnel had sustained leg injuries in the violence.

WHAT STEPS HAS THE UP GOVERNMENT TAKEN?

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a compensation of Rs 40 lakh for the deceased constable’s wife and that of Rs 10 lakh for his parents, the state government said.

Adityanath also directed the district magistrate and the superintendent of police to take strict action against unruly elements and immediately arrest them.

Modi had addressed a public meeting after laying the foundation stone for a medical college and releasing a postal stamp on Maharaj Suheldev.

He had left for Varanasi when the violence in Ghazipur took place.

POLITICAL REACTIONS TO THE INCIDENT

The Congress reacted sharply to the incident, saying that there was "jungle raj" under the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP regime, and that "mobocracy" has replaced democracy.

Condemning the incident, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “In Adityanath's jungle raj, neither the public is safe, nor the police. Democracy in BJP is mobocracy."

UP Congress spokesperson Zeeshan Haider also slammed the UP government, saying: "This government has completely failed in improving the law and order situation. The incident is a failure of the local intelligence on a day when PM was in the district. Criminals have become so unruly that they have now started targeting cops."

Former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav called the incident a result of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s approach to governance. He said, “Ye ghatna isliye ghati hai kyunki CM sadan mein ho ya manch pe ho unki ek hi bhasha hai ‘thok do’. Kabhi police ko nahi samjh aata kise ‘thokna’ hai kabhi janta ko nahi samajh aata kise ‘thokna’ hai.”

Meanwhile, responding to opposition parties, UP BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, as per this India Today report: "This is a highly condemnable incident and those responsible for this will be arrested soon. It will be clear after investigation whether the incident was pre-planned."

Union minister and Uttar Pradesh MP Mahesh Sharma, on 31 December, told ANI, “It is unfortunate, but this should not be linked with law and order situation in the state. It was a reactionary incident. The chief minister took immediate action after taking cognizance of it.”

This is the second incident in the state in a month where a police official was killed in mob violence. Inspector Subodh Kumar Singh was shot dead by a mob in Bulandhshar on 3 December after violence broke out over allegations of cow slaughter.

The man who allegedly shot the Bulandshahr inspector was arrested this week.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)