Cops ‘looting’ apparels from street vendors;Video viral on social media forces bosses to suspend ASI, cop

STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Had the video filmed by a passerby showing two cops looting jackets from roadside vendors in a broad daylight not been went viral on social media, no action would have been initiated against erring cops but after widespread criticism from various corners, police bosses took prompt action against their men and suspended them in an order issued here this evening.
Police authorities on one hand is holding ‘Pathshala’ in schools, colleges and universities besides organising police-public meets to develop rapport appealing people to act as eyes and ears of ‘Khakhi’ but the video showing ‘Wardi Mein Lootere’ has exposed the working of the police and their contribution towards the society in mitigating the grievances of ‘Aam Admi’.
Two cops including an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) during an anti-encroachment drive launched against the street vendors selling clothes on carts at unauthorized spots, committed an act, which invited criticism from all corners on social media.
The policemen posted at Nehru Market were caught on camera on Sunday ‘looting’ apparels (jackets) of street vendors at Panama Chowk while a video shot by some passersby, went viral on social media thus forcing ‘bosses’ to take prompt action against erring cops.
“Action has been taken and both the cops have been placed under suspension while enquiry has been initiated against them,” a senior police official said. The suspended cops have been identified as ASI Lal Chand Attri and Constable Aijaz Ali posted in Nehru Market Police Post.
The suspension order states that this act of these police personnel is highly objectionable and earned bad name to the police department.
Really surprising that only after the video clip surfaced on social media, action was taken but had there been no technology, such ‘loots’ could have gone unnoticed.
“It is not the rarest of the incidents and not an unusual thing happened on city streets but often policemen are seen misbehaving and abusing vendors and taking their items away in the name of anti-encroachment drive,” a local rued.
Meanwhile, the fruit vendors during a survey conducted by the STATE TIMES said that they cannot openly lodge a complaint against the injustice by policemen on duty for the sake of their business.
“This has not happened for the first time,” a fruit vendor said.
He asserted that many a times, cops take away fruits, vegetables and even enjoy tea and soft drinks at shops without giving a penny.
“There are some cops, who start abusing vendors if they ask for money. We simply ignore them to carry out our business smoothly,” he added.