It was literally ‘Holi Hurdang’ of the Uttarakhand police, who played Holi in brash and uncivil manner, tearing their shirts and colouring faces of passers by on Thursday. Watching cops celebrate the festival in this manner left citizens shocked but helpless as they had no alternative but to keep mum. Though it is an open secret, no action has been taken against even a single police personnel.
However, Uttarakhand Inspector General (law and Order) Ram Singh Meena said that a day after the Holi festival police was directed to celebrate Holi with simplicity while maintaining peace and tranquility. They were also directed to ensure that no one faced inconvenience due to their acts while celebrating Holi.
Meena further said that those cops had consumed liquor in the compound of their police stations or blocked the roads which led to public inconvenience or smeared colours on passers by forcefully, would be punished. The department would soon conduct an inquiry over it.
Meanwhile, some police officers refused to accept that police had committed any wrongs while celebrating Holi on Thursday. “If you observe the Holi celebration of police of states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other States, the Uttarakhand Police had done nothing wrong,” said a senior officer.
To ease the tension or stress being faced by police throughout the year, they should be allowed to celebrate the festival freely. The officer further said that consumption of liquor by the police in the compound of police stations and smearing colour on passers by was wrong, but “itna chalta hai”.
Moreover, at some places especially in Rudrapur, drunk policemen celebrating the festival had blocked the highway to Nainital for some time and smeared colours on passers by forcefully, even tearing the clothes of some men. In Dehradun also, shirtless policemen were seen dancing to loud music after consuming liquor and also moving around the town in the police jeep.
Many citizens have questioned the validity of the police celebrating the festival in such a manner after appealing the public to celebrate Holi in a manner which doesn’t cause inconvenience to others. Instead of setting an example, the policemen showed little respect for their own advice to the public.
Sources said that last year, Dehradun police had celebrated Holi on the roads and several cases of eve-teasing by the police were reported. Taking a cue from last years’ experience, this year police were strictly prohibited from celebrating on the roads.