Ludhiana (December 6, 2009): A section of media has raised question on role played by the administration during yesterday’s incident. A Times of India report says that had it not been laxity on part of the administration, loss of life could have been prevented while controlling the Sikhs protesters on Saturday.
‘It is a general feeling that if the police had used rubber bullets for controlling the agitating Sikh, a precious human life could have been saved.‘ adds the news report published on website of TOI.
Ironically, police officers have not been using rubber bullets from last many years on the pretext that they cause injury to the protesters.
The killing of the Sikh protester on Saturday, while agitating against the congregation held by Ashutosh, head of Divya Jyoti Sansthan, has triggered a debate on whether it was possible for the district police to control the agitating mob without killing a person and prevent the spread of violence in other parts of the state.
Consensus has been reached over the fact that the police and the district administration had miserably failed to explore other possible options during the incident. Police should have used water cannon and rubber bullets to control the situation, feels the general public. People believe that both these options could have aided the police in controlling the protesters, without causing harm to life.
‘Sources in the police department revealed that the police have actually not used these bullets from last many years as the high authorities had barred them from using them as they believe these bullets cause major injuries to protesters. ‘ says TOI report.
Ironically, though rubber bullets were not used by the police, real bullets were spontaneously fired, which has put a serious question mark on working of the administration.
Meanwhile, says the above referred report, when asked to comment, deputy commissioner (DC) Vikas Garg who had issued written orders for firing said he was not aware that police had the option to use rubber riot control bullets. “We took all the possible steps to control the mob, but as they were not ready to relent, we had no other option,” he added
Inspector general (IG) of police, Sanjeev Kalra said that as he was not present on the spot, he was not aware whether rubber bullets were used or not.