Why didn't the NOIDA(U.P.) Police check the terrace on the previous day?
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Because they were too busy rounding up youth in Ghaziabad for no reason at all.
A couple of days ago,I was in Ghaziabad for a friend's birthday. A friend and I were walking along the street when without no reason at all a policeman held me by my arm and asked me if I had a minute.I asked him why but he said "aap bas chaliye". As his hold on my hand was still, there was nothing I could do but go with him. He took me to another police officer who had been sitting a few paces away from us. This man was talking to a couple of guys who were probably as old as me, give or take a year or two. When we reached the stop,the policeman who was with me rushed these two guys away and literally "showed" me to the other police officer. So this fat guy starts interrogating me about who I am and what do I do, why was I in Ghaziabad, where do I study and similar stuff. When they asked me where I was from, I said Delhi(not Dilli) at which these policemen started laughing.
Irked slightly,I asked them what the problem was. He said that I (as in me) am young but why can't I live normally. Upon seeing my slightly raised brow he started explaining to me that I shouldn't keep long hair. Reason? None really.It's just because these police officers don't like it. He repeatedly said "jawaani hai, yeh kya kar rakha hai?".Not very impressed, I walked away even as they told me stop.
My friend and I were discussing the issue on a rickshaw later. More specifically we were discussing how could policemen stop people without any reason.At this point,the rickshaw walla turned his head and said to me that probably they stopped me because I have long hair. So I believe this is a common practise in Ghaziabad (Though now that I think of it, we might have dropped a hint about it in our conversation and the rickshaw walla was just trying to rub some
salt on burnt wounds). Though I am not sure about the long hair part i.e. whether or not youth are allowed to keep long hair in Ghaziabad but there is one thing I am certain about. A bunch of policemen in Ghaziabad do pass their time by rounding up youth for no reason at all. It's just for time-pass. When I passed the same area a couple of minutes later, I saw that there were some couple of other youths being interoggated (or lectured) by the policemen now.
My friend later asked my why doesn't anyone complaint about such things. I guess it's because the people there are scared of the police. Nothing wrong with that but my point is different. See, I walked away because I knew that there was no reason with which these guys can stop me. Besides I am not going to see these guys over and over again, so no risk of permanent damange. On the other hand, a resident of Ghaziabad may not be so lucky. So if that resident bends in front of the police officer then it's unlikely he will go up and complaint. However, I don't believe that allows the policemen to judge what is right and wrong for the youth.
Conclusion? Should I cut my hair? No,I don't think I will be visiting Ghaziabad anymore. Kidding, I will probably say hello or get these guys a gift the next time I am in Ghaziabad. They will let me off without a lecture maybe. But remember children, next time you see a mistake being commited by the police in UP,remember the reason - they are busy rounding up the youth in Ghaziabad.
Posted by Abhinav 8:38 AM
Labels: rants
1 comments:
- At 1/9/09 11:39 PM Amrita Banerjee said...
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hehe..i know..this...similar stuff happened with one of my friends..i must have told you that :P
