News Analysis India

Tag: Shahjahanpur

  • Shahjahanpur court orders FIR against 18 policemen in 2004 fake encounter case

    By PTI

    SHAHJAHANPUR: A court here has directed the police to register a case against 18 policemen including the then superintendent of police chief in an alleged fake encounter case in which two persons were killed 18 years ago.

    Superintendent of Police S Anand said that following the orders of the court, a case has been registered against 18 policemen at Jalalabad, and the crime branch will conduct a probe.

    Ejaz Hasan Khan, the advocate for the aggrieved party, told PTI that on October 3, 2004 two villagers from Chachupur — Prahlad and Dhanpal — under Jalalabad police station were caught by the police on the suspicion of their involvement in cases of dacoity.

    He said that the police then shot both of them dead, and their bodies were taken away by the police.

    Prahlad’s brother Ram Kirti appealed at various commissions and officials, but when no hearing was done, he said, adding that on November 24, 2012, he moved the court urging to register a case against the policemen.

    However, the chief judicial magistrate rejected the appeal saying that a lot of time has passed, and a final report was also filed.

    Khan said that after this, he filed a revision plea in the court of the district judge Saurabh Dwivedi and gave an argument that the then District Magistrate Amit Ghosh had the entire matter probed by Additional District Magistrate who found the entire matter to suspicious.

    The argument was accepted, and the revision plea was heard in the court of CJM Abha Pal.

    Khan said that the CJM on January 28 ordered that a case be registered against 18 policemen under section 302/34 of IPC.

    Directions were issued to register case against the 18 policemen including Sushil Kumar (the then SP), Mata Prasad (the then Additional SP), Mummu Lal (the then CO Tilhar), Jaikaran Singh Bhadauria (the then CO Jalalabad) RK Singh (the then CO Sadar).

    Dacoits such as Kallu, Najju and Naresh Dhimar were active in Jalalabad tehsil of Shahjahanpur When the in incident happened.

  • Rajasthan: Former BJP MLA allegedly manhandled by protesting farmers in Shahjahanpur

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: A former BJP MLA was allegedly manhandled and his vehicle damaged by farmers protesting against three agri laws at Rajasthan’s Shahjahanpur, following which his supporters on Monday held a demonstration in Sikar and demanded arrest of the perpetrators.

    Shahjahanpur Station House Officer Vikram Singh said that no complaint has been received so far in the matter. Police said Prem Singh Bajor was on his way to Delhi when some farmers at Shahjahanpur in Alwar district identified him and stopped his SUV.

    Balor had an altercation with them and then, they allegedly manhandled him, tore his clothes and damaged his vehicle, police said quoting people who are the site of the incident.

    They said that the farmers are agitating against the three central laws which were enacted in September last year. Sources said that some time back, Bajor, who is from Sikar, had given a statement against the protesting farmers.

  • After losing father to Covid, Class 6 girl sells shirts on footpath in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur

    By PTI

    SHAHJAHANPUR: Losing her father to Covid in April, a Class 6 girl selling ready-made shirts outside her house in busy Khirni Bagh area of Shahjahanpur district has caught the attention of both the police and the locals.

    Mahi’s father, the sole bread earner of the family, used to supply ready-made shirts to shopkeepers.

    He had installed four sewing machines and used to get the work done with the help of tailors from home.

    In April this year, Pradip Kumar (45) suffered from high fever for three days and was tested Covid positive.

    He was admitted to government medical college where he died during treatment on April 30.

    With no help from anywhere for the family of four comprising her mother and ailing grandparents, the young girl set up a shop outside the house, placing the shirts lying in stock on a bench.

    “We have been facing hardships ever since my father died. My grandfather is over 70 and has not been keeping well. Since there was no help available, we decided to sell the shirts which were lying in the house stitched,” Mahi told PTI.

    Fondly recalling the good days when her father was alive, Mahi said that he used to bring ice cream and pastries for her daily.

    But now things have changed completely, she added.

    Taking notice of the girl sitting in a shop all alone, Sadar Bazar police station in-charge Ashok Pal rushed his men to enquire about the problems of the family.

    “I came to know that her father had died of Covid infection sometime ago so the girl has to sell shirts on the footpath. Taking the immediate needs of the family into consideration, necessary things have been sent to them,” he said.

    He added, “The family has also been assured of all help from my side.”

    The matter has also come to the notice of District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh.

    “I have come to know of this matter. Information regarding the children who have been rendered orphans or lost the earning members of their family is being gathered. They will be given Rs 4,000 per month by the government till they reach the age of 18 years. This money will be given to their guardians,” he told PTI.

    A team is at work and all the cases which come to the notice till June 25 will be disposed of.

    Besides, school-going children will be given admission in government schools, the DM said.

    A local journalist had appealed to the people through social media to help the girl after which some social organisations came forward to help the family by depositing their electricity bill and supporting through other such means.

    Another girl from Shahjahanpur was in news recently after she helped the needy with oxygen cylinders using her scooty.

    Breathing hope into the lives of people in need of oxygen amidst the Covid pandemic, 26-year-old Arshi has earned the nickname “cylinder waali bitiya”.

  • 40 mosques in UP’s Shahjahanpur to be covered ahead of Holi to ‘maintain peace’

    By PTI
    SHAHJAHANPUR: Around 40 mosques in the town are being covered with plastic sheets ahead of Holi to prevent miscreants from throwing colour on the structures and disturb communal harmony, a senior official has said.

    Continuing an 18th-century tradition, Holi in this Uttar Pradesh town begins with revellers hurling footwear at a ‘Laat Saab’ procession featuring a buffalo cart and a hapless man personifying a Britisher.

    The mosques are located along the route of the procession, the official said, adding that a thick security blanket will be thrown across the town where the law and order machinery will be under the charge of 225 magistrates.

    According to Shahjahanpur City Superintendent of Police, Sanjay Kumar, the mosques along the procession route are being covered with plastic sheets from top to bottom to ensure people do not throw colour or any objectionable object at the structures and disturb communal amity.

    “The mosques will be covered before Holika Dahan (March 28). Some of them have already been covered,” Kumar said.

    “The façade of the mosques have been covered with hoardings. Some of the roads which fall on the route of the procession have been barricaded and will be closed a day in advance, so that no anti-social element can disturb the procession,” he added.

    Kumar said preventive action was initiated against 200 people while CCTV cameras have been installed along the route of the procession while drone cameras will also be used to monitor the crowd.

    Additional District Magistrate (administration) Ramsevak Dwivedi told PTI that 225 magistrates will be deployed to ensure maintenance of law and order.

    District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh and Superintendent of Police S Anand on Wednesday held a meeting with Muslim religious leaders and sought their cooperation for peaceful conclusion of the programme.

    Hundreds of people are expected to gather in Shahjahanpur as preparations have begun for the ‘juta maar’ Holi on March 29.

    Elaborating on the history of the procession of ‘Laat Saab’, Vikas Khurana, the head of History department of Swami Shukdevanand College, had told PTI, “On the day of Holi, the procession of ‘Bade Laat Saab’ is taken out on a buffalo cart with Holi revellers hurling ‘jutas’ (footwear) at him.”

    The Holi tradition dates back to the early 18th century during the time of Nawab Abdullah Khan, the last emperor of the dynasty that founded Shahjahanpur, who was popular among both Hindus and Muslims.

    The tradition of people taking out a procession with the nawab seated on a camel continued till 1857.

    However, this event symbolising the Hindu-Muslim unity was not liked by the British, and in 1858, Mardan Ali Khan, the commander of Bareilly’s military ruler Khan Bahadur Khan, attacked the revellers and both Hindus and Muslims were killed in the violence.

    In 1859, when the Nawab took out the procession on Holi, footwear were hurled at it on the instigation of the British rulers.

    After Independence in 1947, the tradition was revived and the administration changed the name of the procession to ‘Laat Saab’ to symbolise the oppressive British regime.

    Since then it is known by this name.

    The celebrations have two parts — the processions of ‘Bade Laat Saab’ and ‘Chhote Laat Saab’.

    The procession of ‘Bade Laat Saab’ begins from Phoolmati Devi Mandir and proceeds towards Baba Vishwanath Mandir.

    Similarly, the procession of ‘Chhote Laat Saab’ begins from Ram Chandra Mission ke Sarai and culminates there itself after a short march.

  • Uttar Pradesh: Christian members urge cops to book VHP workers for breaking into prayer meet

    By PTI
    SHAHJAHANPUR: Members of the Christian community on Wednesday met the district police chief here seeking the registration of a case against Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers who had allegedly barged into a prayer meeting earlier this week.

    In the petition submitted to Shahjahanpur Superintendent of Police S Anand, the community members alleged that 20 people, including VHP office bearer Shyam Mishra, barged into the meeting, beat up women, indulged in indecent acts and also looted the place.

    The Christian community members had come from different districts of the state.

    Police here had booked five people on Sunday for allegedly trying to unlawfully convert people to Christianity.

    SP Anand said the matter is being probed and action will be initiated based on the facts that emerge in the investigation.

    The complaint lodged by the Christian community will also be probed, he said.

    On Tuesday, Anand did not specify the Christian prayer meetings and also referred to two other cases in which the accused are Muslims.

    He said local VHP leader Rajesh Awasthi and his workers handed over to police the five people who were part of a prayer meeting organised by a Christian outfit called ‘Swarg ka Shubh Samachar’.

    The VHP leader alleged that the outfit was indulging in religious conversion through allurement.

    SP Anand had told PTI on Tuesday, “After the registration of three cases on religious conversion in the district, instructions have been issued to police stations to keep themselves aware of prayer meetings in their jurisdictions, and act strictly when they are completely sure that conversion is taking place in the garb of prayer.”

    Anand said a watch should be kept on people who indulge in religious conversion and action taken when there is complete evidence.