Clean chit to cops

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has given a clean chit to the state police over the death of at least 20 anti-CAA protesters, almost two months after the UP DGP announced the formation of district-wise SITs (special investigation teams) to probe the cases of violence. The CM said in the state Assembly on Wednesday that all these persons had been shot by other rioters. If he is to be believed, all deaths took place under similar circumstances in Firozabad, Meerut, Kanpur, Lucknow and other cities. His unsubstantiated claim flies in the face of the Bijnor police’s admission that one person was killed in police firing during the protests in December last year. Moreover, there is still no word on the progress of the probe apparently being conducted by the SITs.

The CM has been steadfastly backing the cops, who have been under fire from opposition parties and human rights groups for allegedly using excessive force to quell the protests. The National Human Rights Commission recently issued a notice to the state government on the Congress’ petition seeking action against police personnel who committed atrocities on protesters. Among those at the receiving end of police excesses was SR Darapuri, a retired IPS officer, who was accused of instigating violence during an anti-CAA protest in Lucknow. He was arrested, but later released on bail due to lack of evidence against him. The police lodged FIRs against 883 people on the charges of rioting and destroying public property, but 561 of them were granted bail.

The police’s reluctance to investigate the cases of fatal violence was exposed last month when the Allahabad High Court rapped the government for denying autopsy reports to the families of those who had died during the disturbances. Rather than promising action against the erring cops, the CM is busy making irresponsible statements, equating protesters with traitors who would die an anonymous death. An independent, court-monitored probe is needed to reveal the truth, considering the loss of credibility of the UP Government as well as its police.