If you think that only tough and quick action can combat crimes, you have to visit this police station in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut town, where the cops deal with the criminal complaints with 'Ganga Jal' and 'Gayatri Mantra' (a sacred mantra chanted by Hindus).
At Nauchandi police station in Meerut town, the complainants are welcomed with a spray of 'Ganga Jal' and are also applied 'teeka' (mark) of sandalwood paste on their foreheads before narrating their woes.
The strange way of dealing with the crimes at the police station came to light when a man approached the station in-charge, Premchand Sharma, a few days ago for lodging a complaint of assault by his stepson.
Instead of lodging the complaint and investigating the matter, the SHO, after spraying 'Ganga jal' and applying the mark of sandalwood paste on his forehead, advised the complainant Hemant Goyal to go to Haridwar in the neighbouring Uttarakhand and spent a few days there at an 'ashram' (mutt).
He also advised Goyal to recite the 'Gayatri Mantra' in the wee hours every day. Goyal did not go to Haridwar but did recite the 'Gayatri Mantra' as advised by the SHO.
The assault, however, did not stop and he again approached the SHO for lodging a complaint against his stepson. ''You must have recited the mantra wrongly,'' the cop told him.
Goyal's complaint was lodged, when he met senior police officials. Sources said that a probe was ordered against the SHO.
''What is the need for having laws if the police will tackle crimes in this way,'' asked Goyal.
(Published 01 April 2021, 10:39 IST)
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