CAA protests: UP cops dismiss allegations of chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ levelled by activist Harsh Mander

Bengaluru: Harsh Mander is a man who proclaims himself to be an activist. But the term “propagandist” would be more relevant. 

Why? 

Well, because he and his NGO ‘Karwan e Mohabbat, who voluntarily carry out factfinding missions when a riot breaks out, recently alleged that the UP cops chanted “Jai Shri Ram” during the anti-CAA protests in Uttar Pradesh. 

There was another interesting observation made in the report by him. It said, “In the student residence, Morrison Court, they (the police) forcefully entered the building, assaulted unsuspecting students and used tear gas within a hostel room. They also beat up elderly hostel guards in the process. Almost always, attacks by police and RAF were coupled with rampant use of strong Islamophobic slurs and calls for ‘Jai Shri Ram’.”

As quoted by a prominent website, the PRO of the Aligarh Police in UP has strongly denied these claims. He said, “How can that happen? Why will Policemen chant these slogans? We are men in uniform, we maintain our discipline. And you must have seen the videos we have released regarding that night and SSP Kulhary has issued a statement on the matter as well.”

Not just that, another police officer even questioned the veracity of these reports. 

Aligarh SSP Akash Kulhary, speaking to Indian Express in response to these allegations said, “There are fact-finding reports here and there and their validity should also be checked. We cannot give response to everyone… a criminal writ application has been filed at High Court and we have submitted our affidavit along with evidence…. This entire fiasco was initiated by the students of AMU. For self-defence, minimum use of force which is legal right of the police has been used.”

The CAA hopes to given citizenship to religiously persecuted minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. 
 

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