LUCKNOW: A vehicle checking drive at
Husainganj
crossing turned ugly after some policemen allegedly manhandled a youth, his sister and her husband on Sunday evening. The alleged incident spurred a two-hour agitation from 8.30pm, prompting police to cane protesters.
While cops are mulling a case against an unruly mob, the SSP has promised a thorough probe into the allegations as well.
Kaiserbagh circle officer Sanjiv Sinha said a team led by sub-inspector Shiv Prasad, also the outpost in-charge at Husainganj crossing, had stopped the 18-year-old on a bike because he had no registration papers. "Identified as Azmal, he is a Class XII student in Pratapgarh. He is visiting his sister in Model Town. He went out on her bike to purchase vegetables and was caught," the officer said.
Azmal called his sister, Neha, who came to the crossing with husband Rahul and the bike's registration papers.
Neha told this newspaper that the sub-inspector behaved rudely with her and when she protested, a lady constable slapped her. "As my husband resisted the violence, the SI pushed him and he fell down. They bundled my brother into a police van and tried to do the same with me. We are not against the new vehicle rules, but this is harassment," she said.
The commotion led to a crowd at the crossing. The numbers began to swell with every passing minute. After Neha alleged that she and her family members were manhandled by police and forcibly taken to Kaiserbagh police station, people began raising slogans and blocked the road. A section of the mob also laid siege to the police station.
Forces from six police stations, including Kaiserbagh, were rushed to the spot. They charged with lathis to quell the protests. Later, senior officers also visited the scene and took stock of the situation.
ASP (West) Vikas Tripathi told TOI that police would register a case against Neha, her brother and husband for causing public disorder. "The bike in question has been taken into custody," he added.
SSP Kalanidhi Naithani, however, said a full probe of the incident would be conducted under the circle officer of Kaiserbagh. "We will examine CCTV camera footage and also take statement of witnesses," he added.