Tussle between Azam Khan and policemen takes an interesting turn

On-going tussle between some policemen of Rampur and cabinet minister, Azam Khan, took an interesting turn when chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, had to reportedly call on an urgent meeting of senior officials along with Azam Khan, here at his residence to resolve the matter on Thursday late afternoon. 

The outcome of the meeting has been not made official but sources said that chief minister issue necessary directions so that the government would not have to face any embarrassment in the days to come.Interestingly, DIG Moradabad range, Durga Charan Mishra, who earlier also remained as SP Rampur and was deemed to be very close lieutenant of Azam Khan, has been removed just after the meeting on Thursday evening. Rampur, also comes under Moradabad range. He was replaced by Gulab Singh, who is brother of senior Samajwadi Party leader, Mohan Singh, who died few months back. Sources confirmed that earlier, Azam Khan got SP Rampur, Ram Krishna Bhardwaj, shunted out after he reportedly not followed his diktats and had brought once again Sadhna Goswami as district police chief. Goswami, was removed by Election Commission during recent lok Sabha elections. Bhardwaj, also got his posting just on Thursday evening.

Sources said that after finding that the cops of Rampur police were up in the arms against cabinet minister, Azam Khan, and the matter could brought major embarrassment for the government, Akhilesh Yadav, had summoned his cabinet colleague from Rampur, along with principal secretary (Home), director general of police, and inspector general of Bareilly zone, here at his residence on Thursday late afternoon. Chief minister reportedly take first hand account of the incident along with the conduct of Azam Khan and later tried to get the matter resolved.

It may be mentioned that on May 18 last, three young Muslim youths, including a student of medicine, were found riding on a bike together and held by cops in Rampur district. They were later taken to Azeem Nagar police station and released after warning. But, few minutes later, the youths returned with some of their community members and had threatened the cops with dire consequences after which the three were detained. The young men, who were riding three to a bike, were booked by police on charges of rioting and causing loss to government property. 

The matter took an turn when Azam Khan, who was informed of the incident, rushed to their rescue, and took an alleged errant police officer to task. When the station officer, Mahendra Pal Singh, reached the spot, Azam Khan, abused him of being drunk and forcibly got him medically examined with the help of Chief Development Officer. Khan, also asked to release all the three youths and to get a case registered against the policemen for manhanding and torturing the youths.

Reports said that the situation further worsened when than SP of Rampur, RK Bhardwaj, refused to comply with Azam’s order and all the three detained youths managed to get bail only after they were produced in local court on the next day. Bhardwaj, disclosed to the media that “The three men were detained after they assaulted policemen on duty at the Azeem Nagar crossing. This type of behavior will not be tolerated at any cost.

Nobody would be allowed to break the law.”  Asked about action against the errant police official, the SP said, “I have instituted an inquiry on the charges against the ASP-rank officer. If he is found guilty, he will not be spared.” Sources said that since then, Azam is pressurising to get the cops punished but he failed to do so. Hence, he reportedly got Bhardwaj removed and brought back Sadhna Goswami as district police chief. According to sources, after finding that they would now face action into the hands of Goswami, the cops decided to fight against injustice after which the matter was informed to chief minister by some senior officer following which he had to intervene to get the issue resolved.