The law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh has reached a tipping point with death of 15 persons during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The police have been accused of disproportionate use of force and firearms. In an exclusive interview, UP Director General of Police, O.P. Singh, told THE WEEK that violence was being orchestrated by those with vested interests. Excerpts:
Did you not foresee the law and order situation related to anti-CAA protests?
In more than 90 per cent of the state, the situation was peaceful. The places where we saw some violence, the situation was controlled with minimum damage. Preventive arrests and community outreach were undertaken. The violence was orchestrated by people with vested interests. We have arrested active members of the Popular Front of India in Lucknow from whom a lot of incriminating evidence, including electronic footprints, has been seized. Data extraction through forensics will reveal more details. The role of political parties inciting violence cannot be ruled out.
There are allegations that the police used firearms against protesters.
Riot control was done through techniques which include the firing of rubber bullets, dye-markers and tear-gas shells. Sometimes, they are mistakenly assumed as firearms.
There have been reports of police brutalities in the Aligarh Muslim University. There are claims that fingers of protesters were dismembered and wrists were cut.
Dismembering fingers or wrists by the police is absolutely untrue. The injuries might have occurred while the protesters were picking up the tear-gas shells to throw back at the police.
UP has seen maximum casualties during anti-CAA protests.
The fact is that during mobilisation of crowd, anti-social elements resorted to large-scale damage to public property and attack on the police. The fact that anti-social elements used firearms should be kept in mind.
