Lucknow Water Throwing Incident: CM Yogi Adityanath Orders Removal of Top Police Officials, Suspends All Staff Of Police Chowky

Lucknow, 1st August 2024: Following a disturbing incident where hooligans misbehaved with a girl on Marine Drive near Taj Hotel, the Uttar Pradesh government has taken swift action by removing two IPS officers and one ACP. Additionally, the entire police post, including the in-charge, has been suspended. The incident occurred on July 31, when 25 to 30 boys were causing a ruckus in a water-filled area.

Incident Details:
At around 4 PM on July 31, a girl riding a bike with her brother was targeted by a group of hooligans who first threw water at her. Despite the girl’s brother trying to explain through gestures, the accused continued their misbehavior. The girl eventually fell off the bike into the water, at which point the hooligans touched her indecently and hooted.

Government and Police Response:
The incident was brought up in the assembly, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated, “I have received the entire list. First criminal – Pawan Yadav. Second – Mohammad Arbaaz. These are your goodwill people. Will we run a goodwill train for them? Bullet train will run for them. Now you don’t worry.”

The CM office took cognizance of the incident video, prompting the police to act swiftly. The Ambedkar Chauraha outpost in-charge registered an FIR based on the video, and DCP Central formed three teams to investigate. The police reviewed nearby CCTV footage and identified the accused.

Arrests and Legal Action:
Six hours after the incident, the police arrested Pawan Yadav and Sunil late on Wednesday night, followed by the arrests of Mohammad Arbaaz and Viraj Sahu on Thursday morning. The accused were charged with outraging the modesty of a woman and obscenity. Upon being arrested, the accused pleaded with folded hands, apologizing for their actions.

Administrative Actions:
CM Yogi Adityanath took the incident very seriously, especially since it occurred in a VIP area of the capital. Consequently, two IPS officers, DCP East Prabal Pratap Singh and ADCP Amit Kumawat, along with ACP Anshu Jain, were removed with immediate effect. SHO Gomti Nagar Deepak Kumar Pandey and the entire post, including the outpost in-charge, were suspended.

Initially, the outpost in-charge had lodged an FIR under minor sections related to the spread of infectious disease through rainwater. However, the police later added section 74 BNS-2023 for forcibly following a woman and hurting her dignity, which carries a provision of punishment up to five years and a fine.

Additional Misbehavior:
Besides misbehaving with the girl, the hooligans also harassed other passersby. An elderly man on a scooter was splashed with water and pushed to the ground. A young man later helped him up.

The swift and severe actions taken by the government and police reflect a zero-tolerance policy towards such misbehavior, ensuring that the safety and dignity of citizens are upheld.