BJP lawmaker Dr Radha Mohan Das Agarwal got into an argument with female IPS officer Charu Nigam on Sunday afternoon.
The incident happened after a group of women near Koilhwa village blocked a road, alleging that the police and the administration were working hand-in-glove to sell illicit liquor in the area, as NDTV reported.
As the situation got tense, the women pelted stones at the police present at the spot. A lathi-charge ensued and some women were also injured.
Agarwal got into an argument with Nigam, who is a 2013 batch officer training in Gorakhpur currently. The footage of the incident was shot by journalists.
Agarwal said that he went to support the villagers in the area and he wanted the police officers to pull up their socks, which is why he spoke with them sternly.
This is the height of indiscipline that an MLA is talking to the Senior District Magistrate and an officer interrupts. I don’t demand any action against her.
Main aapse baat nahin kar raha hoon... mujhe tum kuch na batao. Chup raho tum! Bardasht ke bahar mat jao (I am not speaking to you. Don’t tell me anything. You keep quiet. Don’t cross your limits.)Dr Radha Mohan Das Agarwal
I am the officer in charge here. I know what I am doing.Charu Nigam
Agarwal has since maintained that he has not misbehaved with the officer.
We are against the operation of liquor shops. People were peacefully protesting against the liquor shops, but the woman police officer forcibly removed the protesters and while doing so, she hit a woman and dragged an 80-year-old man. This simply cannot be tolerated.
Nigam maintained that she did not cry because of what the MLA said to her.
I didn’t cry on the MLA’s words, I just got emotional when a senior officer took a stand for me. Does the police have no right to ask someone to move aside?Charu Nigam
Agarwal alleged that the liquor mafia and police had an understanding as shops which were shut merely 15 days ago had again sprung into action.
Speaking to CNN-News18, Nigam said:
He denied to recognise me as a police officer. That is something which hurt me.
However she did not comment on whether the MLA behaved with her in this manner because she is a woman. Further, when asked if action should be taken against him, she said that there is a case on the 'raasta-roko' which was happening by protesters, but refused to comment on it further.
‘I Did Not Misbehave With Her’: Agarwal
When the MLA arrived, the road was free from protesters, which apparently angered him as had asked them to stay put and lift the blockade only after his persuasion, Nigam claimed.
On the other hand, Aggarwal accused the IPS officer of exercising high-handedness with the protesters, who were demanding that a liquor outlet in their locality be shut.
Aggarwal rubbished allegations that he misbehaved with her. He alleged that there was a tacit understanding between the police and the liquor mafia as a liquor shop closed 15 days ago had suddenly started doing business again.
When asked to comment on the footage telecast by local news channels, Aggarwal said:
Is my body language showing that I am misbehaving with her? I was not speaking to the CO (Charu Nigam), but to the SP (City). See my body language properly. If you see the video recording of the incident, you will find the woman officer removing the protesters forcibly...you will see the reality.
Later, Nigam took to Facebook to thank everyone who supported her.
The woman IPS officer has been quite active in the newly formed anti-Romeo squad and has been nick-named by some media organisations as 'Lady Singham' after a Bollywood movie.
Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim
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